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Excavation
Date 13 November 2017 - 8 December 2017
Event ID 1046508
Category Recording
Type Excavation
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1046508
Addyman Archaeology undertook a programme of archaeological work at 4-6 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, previously known as 'The Lot' in advance of its renovation and extension, in November and December 2017. The site includes the former Robertson Memorial Mission Buildings, which is a part of the larger Category B listed building 4-10 Grassmarket. The western boundary of the site is constituted by the Flodden Wall, a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The archaeological works included Historic Building Recording of the standing building, excavation in the land to the rear of the standing building, and archaeological excavation of a lift-shaft trench within the building. The excavations revealed that the rear plot had been terraced in antiquity, probably concurrently with the construction of the Robertson Memorial Mission building, and that this terracing had removed most in-situ indications of previous occupation. Substantial fragments of structural rubble, the remains of buildings pre-dating the construction of the Robertson Memorial Mission building levelled during this terracing works, were identified, as well as a series of possible buttress walls constructed above the rubble horizon. A substantial corpus of post-medieval and modern artefacts was retrieved from the deposits excavated, including some residual material of 16th to 19th century date. The lift-shaft excavations revealed drainage features related to the original construction of the standing building, and a red sandstone rubble horizon, above natural clay, predating the standing building's construction. The building recording noted previously blocked internal features including fireplaces and windows on the ground and first floors, and a 19th century underpinning to the Flodden Wall at the rear of the standing building.
Information from Philip Karsgaard (Addyman Archaeology) January 2018. OASIS ID: addymana1-304564
