Archaeological excavations in St Giles' Cathedral Edinburgh, 1981-93

Abstract

The report describes the results of excavations in 1981, ahead of development within the South Choir Aisle of St Giles' Cathedral, and subsequent archaeological investigations within the kirk in the 1980s and 1990s. Three main phases of activity from the 12th to the mid-16th centuries were identified, with only limited evidence for the post-Reformation period. Fragmentary evidence of earlier structural remains was recorded below extensive landscaping of the natural steep slope, in the form of a substantial clay platform constructed for the 12th-century church. The remains of a substantial ditch in the upper surface of this platform are identified as the boundary ditch of the early ecclesiastical enclosure. A total of 113 in situ burials were excavated; the earliest of these formed part of the external graveyard around the early church. In the late 14th century the church was extended to the south and east over this graveyard, and further burials and structural evidence relating to the development of the kirk until the 16th century were excavated, including evidence for substantive reconstruction of the east end of the church in the mid-15th century. Evidence for medieval slat-bottomed coffins of pine and spruce was recovered, and two iron objects, which may be ferrules from pilgrims' staffs or batons, were found in 13th/14th-century burials.

Untitled

“…The assemblage of articulated remains was compared with findings reported from other local and regional, broadly contemporary, groups to identify any patterns -osteological or funerary. These included previous excavations at St Giles' (Collard et al 2006); burgh sites at Perth (Bowler 2004;Fyles et al 2005), Glasgow (Driscoll 2002), Dundee (Brown & Roberts 2000) and Aberdeen (Cameron & Stones 2001), and Scottish monastic sites at Aberdeen, Linlithgow and Perth ), Newbattle Abbey (Gooder 2004) and Whithorn (Cardy 1997). Northern English sites were also considered: St Andrew's, Fishergate, York (Stroud & Kemp 1993) and the parish church of St Helen-on-the-Walls, Aldwark, York (Dawes & Magilton 1980).…”

matter of life and death – trade and burial around St Giles’ Cathedral

“…The assemblage of articulated remains was compared with findings reported from other local and regional, broadly contemporary, groups to identify any patterns -osteological or funerary. These included previous excavations at St Giles' (Collard et al 2006); burgh sites at Perth (Bowler 2004;Fyles et al 2005), Glasgow (Driscoll 2002), Dundee (Brown & Roberts 2000) and Aberdeen (Cameron & Stones 2001), and Scottish monastic sites at Aberdeen, Linlithgow and Perth ), Newbattle Abbey (Gooder 2004) and Whithorn (Cardy 1997). Northern English sites were also considered: St Andrew's, Fishergate, York (Stroud & Kemp 1993) and the parish church of St Helen-on-the-Walls, Aldwark, York (Dawes & Magilton 1980).…”

Discovering the King’s wall

“…All are commonly found in graveyard deposits used as shroud fastenings, as well as domestic contexts (Oakley & Webster 1979;Caple 1983;Goodall 1983;Egan & Pritchard 1991;Nicholson 1997). It is possible that some of these objects ultimately derive from the neighbouring graveyard of St Giles', where all three types have been found (Franklin & Collard 2006), though as most are associated with midden material, a domestic origin seems more likely. The finding of three identical eyelets (no.…”