Proc Soc Antiq Scot 140EARLY (2010), HISTORIC 105–128 SETTLEMENT BENEATH THE GRASSMARKET IN EDINBURGH | 105 Early Historic settlement beneath the Grassmarket in Edinburgh James McMeekin* with contributions by Simon Stronach, Julie Franklin, Clare Thomas, Sarah Jane Haston, Emma Tetlow, Lynda Howard and Fiona Beglane ABSTRACT Archaeologically monitored excavations in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh uncovered diverse remains dating from prehistory to the First World War. The stratigraphic sequence included pits created in the middle of the Bronze Age, Early Historic features and deposits, a series of medieval surfaces, a section of the Flodden Wall and post-medieval building foundations. The Early Historic features provide rare evidence for Edinburgh’s development prior to the 12th century and form the focus of this article. Several features, created during the Anglian occupation of the Lothians, suggest the presence of a settlement between the late 6th and early 10th centuries AD, overlooked and possibly servicing a high status site on Castle Rock. The evidence is compared to archaeological results from other settlements formerly within the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia (Northumbria). Deposits over a structure were radiocarbon dated to the 11th–12th century, when the region was under Scottish control. Associated environmental remains and leather offcuts indicated the holding, butchering and processing of livestock. This evidence pre-dates the documented use of the area as a medieval market and is interpreted as relating to a pre-burghal phase of use. The significance of the results in terms of our understanding of Edinburgh’s development, and to assessments of archaeological potential in Scottish medieval towns in general, is also discussed. INTRODUCTION shallower areas for drainage and resurfacing between September 2007 and November Improvements to the Grassmarket in 2008. The curator for the work was the City Edinburgh carried out as part of the Capital of Edinburgh Council Archaeology Service Streets Project provided a rare opportunity which also secured appropriate funding to archaeologically monitor excavations in from the City of Edinburgh Council for post- this bustling part of the Old Town (illus 1 excavation analysis when the significance of & 2). Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd was the excavations became apparent. commissioned by R J McLeod to monitor A broad range of archaeological remains the digging of deep trenches for recycling were encountered and testify to the use of bins, manholes and new trees, as well as this area long before its documented medieval * Headland Archaeology Ltd, 13 Jane Street, Edinburgh EH6 5HE 106 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 2010 Illus 1 Location plan showing the extent of the Grassmarket excavations origin. The remains dated from the prehistoric background where appropriate. The key to the early 20th century and included: findings from all periods are summarised and prehistoric features dating to the middle of followed by brief discussions. The second the Bronze Age; features and deposits dating half of the article is a more speculative to the Anglian occupation of Edinburgh (7th– discussion that focuses on the Early Historic 10th century ad); early medieval deposits and early medieval discoveries because (11th–12th century); medieval surfaces of their relevance to our understanding of (13th–15th century) and the foundations the development of Edinburgh. The nature of the Flodden Wall; an elaborate system of the remains and how the results might of stone culverts; foundations of the 19th- be helpful to archaeologists seeking to century Corn Exchange and a crater created discover further pre-burghal features is also by a bomb dropped from a First World War considered. The article contains information German navy zeppelin. For the sake of clarity, relating to the analysis of finds (J Franklin the medieval and post-medieval structures, & C Thomas), environmental samples (S J surfaces and deposits are largely omitted from Haston), animal bone (F Beglane) and insect the illustrations. remains (E Tetlow & L Howard), adapted This article is presented in two parts. The and synthesised from full archive reports first half contains a description of the site and (all contained within McMeekin 2009). A summaries of historical and archaeological full archive, including specialist reports, has EARLY HISTORIC SETTLEMENT BENEATH THE GRASSMARKET IN EDINBURGH | 107 been deposited with the Royal Commission than farther to the west and east. This may on the Ancient and Historical Monuments indicate a slight rise in the natural topography of Scotland (RCAHMS). Illustrations are by here, and may represent the tail end of a ridge Caroline Norrman. running north/south from what is now Castle Wynd South to the Grassmarket (illus 1). Above the colluvium a sequence of cobbled PART I: THE EXCAVATIONS surfaces and redeposited material (make-up) was encountered. The latest surface in the SIMPLIFIED STRATIGRAPHY AND SCOPE OF sequence was contemporary with an extensive WORK network of drainage culverts. A complete stratigraphic sequence was con- The keyhole nature of the excavations sistently recorded throughout the excavations meant that features were typically exposed where the underlying geology was deeper; in isolation and only a very small percentage elsewhere this sequence was likely to have of the excavated area reached beneath the been truncated in the medieval period. colluvium, the depth necessary to expose the Geological sediments derived from glacial earliest phases of activity (illus 4a and 4b). till were occasionally sealed by grey silty The deepest excavations were limited to areas clay subsoil and a preserved former ground where new drainage, trees and recycling bins surface. A layer of hillwash (colluvium) sealed were to be introduced with the result that only these deposits. This layer represents a build up narrow trenches and small, unconnected areas of material washed downslope from the area were exposed. Within this framework it was to the east of the Castle (illus 1 and 3). About not possible to determine the full nature or halfway along the Grassmarket the colluvium scale of the prehistoric and early medieval was substantially thinner (or non-existent) remains. The early features were recorded in a 1 5 3 7 8 2 6 4 1. Edinburgh Castle 5. High Street 2. Grassmarket 6. Cowgate (eastern end) 3. Section of Flodden Wall exposed in excavations 7. Canongate 4. West Port 8. Holyrood Illus 2 James Gordon of Rothiemay’s map of Edinburgh, c 1647 with locations mentioned in the text 108 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 2010 N 120 mAOD Castle Rock Johnston Terrace 90 mAOD colluvium S 86 mAOD Vennel 64 mAOD medieval & post-medieval colluvium surfaces and deposits buried ground surface geological deposits Illus 3 Schematic cross-section of the Grassmarket valley very limited sample and there remains a very mounds are thought to be accumulations of high archaeological potential throughout the waste at locations where stones were placed Grassmarket. in a fire and subsequently used to heat water for a variety of purposes. BRONZE AGE ACTIVITY Discussion Results Bronze Age artefacts have been recorded Two small pits were exposed cut into an within the modern city from the 19th century old ground surface and sealed by a layer on – such as a Bronze Age flat axe from of colluvium towards the western end of Canongate, shown in illus 2, to the east the Grassmarket (illus 4a). Environmental of the Grassmarket (Stevenson et al 1981: analysis of the fills provided common charcoal 37). Where excavations have encountered fragments and suggested the features were prehistoric features and deposits the remains used as cooking pits or contained fire debris are frequently truncated by later occupation. from nearby. Radiocarbon dating of associated The earliest deposits at Edinburgh Castle (900 charred plant remains returned dates of 2200 bc–200 bc) only survived in the deepest part bc to 1950 bc (2 sigma, SUERC 19840; Table of the trench and even here were damaged 1) for one and 1500 bc to 1380 bc (2 sigma, by activity in the late Iron Age (Driscoll & Beta-242133; Table 1) for the other. Yeoman 1997: 26). Waste flakes from a small The deposit found in and around one pit lithic assemblage indicated sporadic activity was reminiscent of the material associated from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age on the with burnt mounds – heat fractured sub- Parliament site adjacent to Holyrood (illus 2), angular stones and much charcoal. Burnt and a number of features that may have been Castle Sout h 325300 W 325400325400 yn d Grann EARLY HISTORIC SETTLEMENT BENEATH THE GRASSMARKET INEDINBURGH THE GRASSMARKET BENEATH SETTLEMENT HISTORIC EARLY y Gree n’ s Steps Illus 6 Anglian N features Bronze Age exposed area 673350 pits of bomb crater Heri o t Bri dg exposed section e of Flodden Wall projected line of Flodden Wall Depth of excavation approx. site former location of the 19th of West Port century corn exchange ≤0.5 m 0.51 - 1 m 673300 1 - 2 m 2 - 3 m Port st We Ve 3 + m nnel features 25 m | 109 Illus 4a Excavated areas in the western end of the Grassmarket 110 325400 325500 N | SOCIETY O SOCIETY Depth of excavation ≤0.5 m F w 0.51 - 1 m ANTIQUARIES O 1 - 2 m st Bo 673450 We 2 - 3 m 3 + m features F SCOTLAND,2010 West Bow well Illus 7 cobbled surface and associated deposits Cowgatehead Anglian 673400 beam slot/gully Illus 9 Anglian feature 25 m Illus 4b Excavated areas in the eastern end of the Grassmarket EARLY HISTORIC SETTLEMENT BENEATH THE GRASSMARKET IN EDINBURGH | 111 prehistoric were identified here, though not in kingdom of Bernicia, although Rollason such a concentration as to suggest that this was (2003: 89) urges a cautionary approach to this the location of an early settlement (Stronach limited evidence. The Pictish Chronicle states 2008: 18–19). The foot of the Canongate that the ‘fortress of Eden’ was held by the ridge, with lower, wetter ground to either Angles until c ad 960 when it was abandoned side, was identified as a suitable location for to the Scots led by King Indulf (Stevenson prehistoric settlement (ibid: 19).