Archaeological Evaluation

Date 15 October 2013

Event ID 966361

Category Recording

Type Archaeological Evaluation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/966361

Alder Archaeology Ltd was commissioned by Nick and Sarah Tulloch to undertake an archaeological evaluation in the backlands of 2 Atholl Place, Perth. The work was undertaken on the 15th October 2013 in good weather conditions. The site is considered to be archaeologically sensitive because of its location adjacent to the historic core of the medieval burgh and close to the Blackfriars' cemetery to the northwest. Archaeological excavation at Horse Cross found a medieval ditch which probably represented part of the c.12th-century Perth Castle defences. It was considered a possibility that the Perth Castle defences may have extended into the development area. Two evaluation trenches were excavated which bottomed onto natural riverine silty clay deposits. Trench 01, located adjacent to the site boundary on Blackfriars Wynd, revealed what was considered to be part of an early 19th-century building wall with cobble flooring and an adjacent pit. Below the building remains a lower garden soil was encountered which contained medieval pottery sherds. An unstratified, unidentified coin was recovered which was considered to be medieval. The trench reached a maximum depth of 1.50m. Trench 02, positioned to the N of trench 01, in the backlands close to the centre of the plot, revealed deep garden soils with inclusions of medieval pottery. Two intercutting pits were identified at a depth of 1.40m. The pits contained abundant medieval pottery and some metalwork. The upper parts of the pits appear to have been truncated by later garden activity. The trench reached a maximum depth of 1.60m. The evaluation found no evidence of the Castle defences but revealed 12th-century pottery from pits which may have been associated with activity from within the Castle.

Information from Oasis (alderarc1-163079) 3 November 2013