www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk ISSUE 20 SUMMER 2014 Treasures under our feet The archaeology of Scotland’s cities Life and Bronze death Age jet in in Leith Dunragit - tram- works Urban structures & re-use CONTENTS Issue No 20 / Summer 2014 Editor’s Note ISSN 2041-7039 The next issue will be on the theme of Religion and Religious Published by Archaeology Scotland, editorial recent projects Sites. We also welcome articles on more general topics, community Suite 1a, Stuart House, 04 From the Director 19 Recent work by GUARD Archaeology at Eskmills, Station Road, projects, SAM events and research Musselburgh EH21 7PB Cambuskenneth, Dunragit and Yarrowford projects, as well as members’ Tel: 0845 872 3333 letters. Members are particularly Fax: 0845 872 3334 encouraged to send letters, short Email: info@archaeologyscotland. features news articles, photos and opinions org.uk 05 24 relating to Scottish archaeology Scottish Charity SC001723 Brewers and Backlands Glasgow Exhibition; AGM and Members’ Day at any time for inclusion in our 08 25 Company No. 262056 Life and Death in the City Community Heritage Conference; Accord ‘Members’ Section’. 12 Searching for Stirling’s Secrets Project 15 Structures and Urban Archaeology 26 Free Training; 60 Second Interview If you plan to include something Cover picture 28 in the next issue, please contact Excavation of a tanning tank at Scottish Archaeology Month 2014 the Holyrood North site © CFA the editor in advance to discuss Archaeology Ltd requirements, as space is usually at books a premium. We cannot guarantee Editing and typesetting to include a particular article in a Sue Anderson, 30 Reviews: Glasgow - A History; Historic Bute. particular issue, but we will do our Spoilheap Archaeology Recent Publications: The Hirsel Excavations very best to accommodate you! [email protected] 05 High resolution digital images (300 15 dpi+) are preferred for publication. Advertising sales Please include copyright details and Advertisers should contact the a caption. Archaeology Scotland offices in the first instance. Contributions can be sent by post to the Archaeology Scotland offices © Archaeology Scotland or emailed direct to the Editor Copyright for text published in 08 (see opposite) marked ‘ArcScot Archaeology Scotland magazine will contribution’. rest with Archaeology Scotland and the individual contributors. Please send your contributions by 9th October 2014. Views and opinions expressed within Archaeology Scotland magazine are All copy may be edited for reasons not necessarily those of Archaeology of length and clarity. Scotland, its Board or the Editor A large print version of Find us on the Web Archaeology Scotland is available 19 on request. Please contact the www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk Archaeology Scotland office for further information. twitter.com/ArchScot facebook.com/pages/Archaeology- Scotland/120787415194 12 22 2 – ISSUE 20 SUMMER 2014 – 3 editorial features ince the last issue of the Brewers and Backlands magazine, we have been out Sand about promoting Scotland’s archaeology and getting on with our r wide range of projects and partnership initiatives. o The Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) national conference was held t in Glasgow in April. The Cabinet Secretary, Fiona Hyslop welcomed delegates with a very upbeat speech c (now available to read on the Historic Scotland website http://www.historic- scotland.gov.uk/ifa-conference- speech) in which she stated that The Archaeological Research Excavations at the “profession is highly valued in in Progress Conference (ARP) was Holyrood North, re Scotland because as archaeologists organised by us this year (we take it in you play a key role in identifying turns with the Society of Antiquaries of and investigating, preserving and Scotland to lead on organising). When Edinburgh promoting our heritage which in it’s our turn, we take the conference turn informs our concept of national to different parts of Scotland and this identity”. Such recognition from this year we were in Dundee. We had administration is to be welcomed a lively day of talks and discussion and coincides with the publication on what’s been happening in and of Our Place in Time – the Historic around Perth & Kinross, Tayside, Fife Environment Strategy for Scotland and Aberdeenshire. The next major Barrel-lined pits, probably part of a medieval tannery © CFA Archaeology Ltd (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/ conference that we are involved in is Resource/0044/00445046.pdf) the Community Heritage Conference FA Archaeology Ltd have recently redeveloped in the 1970s for Edinburgh which we also welcome, and we are in November and a reminder to keep finished extensive excavations at University. Crucially the brewery and the later trying not to refer to it as the yellow the date and think about offering a Cthe site of new university student University development did not succeed in book! Both Jonathan Wordsworth (our talk is being flagged up in this issue. accommodation just off Holyrood Road in destroying all of the earlier remains which Rural Land Use Adviser) and I have Our links and contacts with the Edinburgh. CFA has been working closely survived in pockets across the site. been contributing to discussions and Built Environment Scotland (BEFS) and with the contractors Balfour Beatty since May Once the University buildings were removed workshops on the recently published Scottish Environment LINK continue 2013 to ensure important archaeological Strategy and I am delighted to be part the latest remains of interest were those of to be strong partnerships and indeed remains were fully recorded and recovered the brewery. These consisted mainly of the of the committee providing advice in some of our recent consultation before construction work. The excavation has the development and implementation foundations of the buildings that once formed responses can be seen on the BEFS uncovered a wide range of significant remains of an archaeology strategy for website www.befs.co.uk. It is through a Scotland. which will shed a great deal of light on the BEFS group that the sector is keeping medieval and later history of the area. We have also been doing our a close eye on the progress of the bill One of the most important own strategic reviewing and having to merge RCAHMS and HS and at the The site was located on the corner of St a look into the future and where we next meeting of this group we will hear John’s Road and Holyrood Road and occupied discoveries was the medieval would like Archaeology Scotland to more about the structure of the new what were once the medieval backlands of burgh boundary be in 5 years’ time. Staff and Board body – Historic Environment Scotland. the south-west corner of the historic burgh deliberations have now agreed We are delighted that Ms Hyslop has of Canongate; the burgh got its name from that our new Vision statement is given us an interview for the magazine the Canons of Holyrood Abbey, which was the brewery. In the main these were built of “Archaeology Scotland is the leading about the merger of RCAHMS and established in 1128. The backlands typically mortared sandstone but, because of the level independent charity working to Historic Scotland and what it will mean formed areas to the rear of the houses which of demolition, often only the foundations of inspire communities, amateurs and for archaeology in particular. professionals to discover, explore and would have been used for industrial purposes walls survived, so ascribing functions to most From the Di enjoy the past.” Our attention will now and later on for gardens. In the 19th and the surviving remains will prove difficult. A turn to re-writing our strategic plan 20th centuries the area was occupied by number of wells also belonging to the brewery which will help us deliver on this vision. Eila Macqueen the Edinburgh & Leith Brewery, before being were identified. Most of these wells were still 4 – ISSUE 20 SUMMER 2014 – 5 features hairs. Five barrel-lined pits were found and these were also thought to have a function related to tanning or the treatment of hides, as lime and animal hair were identified in one of them. In other places simple pits excavated into the clay were also found to contain lime residues, again suggestive of use in tanning or the treatment of hides. Tanning was a toxic and smelly process so the location of the remains at the far end of the backlands, away from the houses on the Canongate, comes as no surprise. They also lay close to the road which leads from the ‘Cowgate’, named for its cattle markets, from where the animal hides would probably Half-sectioned pits thought to be related to medieval tanning © CFA Archaeology Ltd have been obtained. Overall a wide range of The brewery remains under excavation © CFA Archaeology Ltd medieval and later pottery active and one was over 12m deep, cut into possible bank which would have marked the and exceptionally well the natural bedrock. edge of the medieval Canongate. The ditch preserved animal bone was recovered. The cleaning Below the brewery remains were deep appeared mostly to have silted up naturally but of these finds is underway deposits of mostly homogeneous garden soils. it also contained quantities of ceramics and to allow post-excavation These soils derived from the areas used as animal bone, especially horn cores. In places assessment to take place. gardens and orchards. Map evidence and the surface of the ditch was covered in stones However, it will be some evidence from elsewhere along Holyrood suggesting that when filled up it was wet and time before the analysis and Road indicates that this type of use for the soft and that the area needed firming up to publication is complete. Once backlands probably stretches back as far as allow people to cross it without sinking in to finished, this work should add the 15th century.