Excavation

Date 1992

Event ID 1036391

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1036391

NT 1895 7685.

Excavation of new footings for the old mortuary house in the NW corner of the kirkyard uncovered a 5m length of Roman granary wall, a continuation of the structure excavated immediately to the N by Alan Rae (Britannia 1974). The wall had been robbed to the course above foundation level in most places. It was constructed of a mortared rubble core with squared sandstone facing blocks. The main body of the wall was 0.9m wide with a single offset foundation course projecting on both sides. Two buttresses on its E side were recognised: both had been badly damaged by robbing. A vent ran through the wall width between the buttresses. After recording the wall was reburied.

Above the wall a depth of 1.3m of dark humic loam to modern ground contained many disarticulated human bones. No intact skeletons were observed.

Sponsor: City of Edinburgh District Council.

M Collard 1992.