Excavations south of Edinburgh High Street, 1973-4

Abstract

NT 260735. Remains of houses of 14th to 16th centuries were uncovered, together with walling interpreted as the late 15th century city wall or King's Wall built in response to a royal charter. Considerable documentary evidence in the form of deeds and protocol books exists for the area, but it was of limited archaeological value owing to the difficulty of pinpointing properties on the ground. Finds include coarse pottery, German stonewares, floor tiles, glass, coins, a large group of 17th and 19th century clay tobacco pipes and an important sample of animal bones. A R