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Archaeology Notes
Event ID 831310
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/831310
NN70SE 15.08 781 013
NN 781 013 A watching brief was undertaken in November 2001 during the digging of three small trenches under the path running around the outside of Dunblane Cathedral. These holes were excavated to ascertain the depth of the drains underneath, ahead of work to relay the path. Each trench was excavated only deep enough to expose the drain.
A possible stone cist was noted just outside the N wall, though this appeared to be empty. Other deposits had been recently disturbed for the insertion and maintenance of drains and for the laying of the concrete path.
A further watching brief was undertaken between February and March 2002. The old path was dug up, forming a wide shallow trench around the external walls. A foundation course around the base walls was revealed with some associated paving. This only extended around the body of the 13th-century cathedral, not around the base of the earlier tower. Other features and deposits related to the path and to the adjacent graveyard. Much disarticulated human bone was found, along with fragments of gravestones, disturbed during the original path laying in the late 19th century or later.
Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.
Sponsor: HS
G Ewart and J Franklin 2002