Discovering Hidden Kirkwall.
The Kirkwall Townscape Heritage Initiative Archaeology Programme.
Excavation in RBS Garden
Archaeologists from The University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute team will be commencing the excavation today; the first research – led excavations in the town since 1978. The site in the RBS Bank gardens will open from 9:30am to 4:30pm each day from Monday 16th May until Saturday 20th May and visitors are welcome to visit and talk to the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute team.
As part of the community programme we will be training volunteers and involving the local schools in the dig itself, mapping in the Museum Gardens and historical mapping in the town itself – piecing together the story of Kirkwall.
On Tuesday and Wednesday this week KGS pupils are involved in three studies:
- Excavation, sieving and finds washing in the RBS gardens.
- Geophysics, surveying and mapping in the Museum Gardens
- Historical mapping in the town itself
These archaeological investigations will build on the geophysics survey completed two weeks ago and will help us discover answers to the questions
- What is the location, character and depth of the former shoreline and piers to the west of the town centre of Kirkwall (between Broad Street and Junction Road)
- Is there any evidence for the former layout of the museum gardens ?
- Do remains of the range of buildings depicted on the 1882 Ordnance Survey map in the southern part of the museum gardens survive below ground level. What is the character and depth of these remains where they do survive?
Pupils from Glaitness School will also be on site on Thursday 19th May from 10.30 until 12.30pm to help us in the dig.
