Excavation

Date 17 June 2013 - 30 June 2013

Event ID 994223

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/994223

NO 01808 14548 As part of SERF’s Community Archaeology programme the children and staff of Dunning Primary School had the opportunity to plan, participate in and record an archaeological excavation with Dunning’s Wee Big Dig, which ran from 17–30 June 2013. With the support of several student assistants from the University of Glasgow, the children opened two 1m² trenches in an area to the W of the school building. Close to the school boundary wall, this area was deliberately selected as it was unlikely to have been subject to extensive disturbance from the recent modernisation of the building. A range of artefacts were recovered, including pottery sherds dating from the 14–20th century, nails, clay pipes and fragments from several glass bottles. Structural features in Trench 2 confirmed changes in the entrance gateway, path and front door of the original school building. At the end of the two day excavation some of the artefacts were put on display for the pupils to handle and discuss, and a presentation summarising all the activities was given to the whole school. A time capsule, in the form of a glass jar containing several objects selected by Dunning Primary School pupils, was inserted into Trench 1 before it was back-filled and sealed.

Residents of Dunning also opened up their gardens for the Big Dig and, supported by student assistants, volunteered to excavate 1m² trenches in their gardens to contribute to our understanding of the development of the village. Trenches were spread across the village at: Granco Cottage (NO 01936 14647), Ashcliffe, Muckhart (NO 01919 14235), Cairnbaan (NO 01728 14438), Kirk Wynd (NO 01879 14587), 1 Station Road (NO 01801 14477) and Thimble Row Cottage (NO 01989 14388). A wide range of objects were recovered, including stamped clay pipe bowls, glass from a variety of bottles and windows, iron nails, metal buttons, stone loom weights, pottery sherds, bovine and small rodent bones, wooden construction material, clay bottle stops and modern linoleum. The artefacts and structural remains date predominantly to the late 19th and 20th century.

Archive: University of Glasgow and RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Historic Scotland and University of Glasgow

Louisa Campbell, University of Glasgow, 2013

(Source: DES)