St Andrews Library: Archaeological Excavation
Data Structure Report February 2003
Rathmell Archaeology Ltd
St Andrews Library Excavation – Data Structure Report
Overview This Data Structure Report (DSR) presents the initial findings of an archaeological excavation undertaken in connection with the redevelopment of the Public Library in St Andrews, Fife (NGR ref: NO 5089 1667). The Public Library occupies an early nineteenth century building that was constructed within the northwest corner of the then defunct graveyard of the Holy Trinity Parish Church. These works were initiated in response to the need to underpin the eastern gable of the library building and excavate a lift shaft pit adjacent to the same wall. Fife Council Technical Services were managing this redevelopment on behalf of Fife Council Library Services and took advice and guidance from the Archaeological Unit within Fife Council Development Services. Mr Douglas Speirs from the Archaeological Unit advised on the scope and scale of archaeological works necessary to facilitate the necessary redevelopment. Rathmell Archaeology Ltd was appointed to act on behalf of Fife Council with regard to the archaeological works. During July and August 2003 archaeological teams excavated the lift shaft pit and adjacent underpin trenches to facilitate the building works. The majority of the sediments excavated were from the graveyard, with elements of some seventy articulated skeletons lifted as well as quantities of disarticulated human skeletal material and artefacts. One distinct horizon was noted towards the base of the homogenised graveyard earth that appeared to be construction debris. This included a considerable quantity of industrial ceramics, slag and charcoal. The whole of the lift shaft pit was excavated to natural sand sediments and all human skeletal material removed from this area. The underpin trenches were cleared to the depth necessary to facilitate the underpinning of the gable wall.
Fig 1: Geddy 1580
Project Works The programme of works agreed with the Fife Council Archaeological Unit included an archaeological desk-based assessment and the excavation of the Lift Shaft Pit (LSP) and the Underpin Trench (UT). The LSP was 3m by 3m abutting the midpoint of the gable wall (Fig 4) while the UT extended along the gable wall. These works were undertaken in keeping with the agreed working protocol with on-site works running from in two sessions from 2nd July 2003 to 15th July 2003 and from 11th August 2003 to 27th August 2003. Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 1 of 24
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All articulated skeletal material was excavated and recorded as individual contexts, with skeletal material bagged in six elements, where present (skull, torso and four limbs). Disarticulated skeletal material and small finds were recovered by excavation level, while disarticulated skulls were located three dimensionally and assigned individual small find numbers. The site team was typically three archaeologists and included Mr Thomas Rees, Mr Ally Stewart, Mr Joe Ansell and Ms Laura Little. Both Mr Douglas Speirs and Mr Alastair Rees undertook site monitoring on behalf of Fife Council Development Service Archaeological Unit. The Historic Scotland monument warden also visited the site during the course of the works. This report was prepared by Mr Thomas Rees, Mr Alan Matthews and Mr Douglas Gordon. All works were conducted in accordance with the Institute of Field Archaeology’s Standards and Policy Statements and Code of Conduct and Historic Scotland Policy Statements. Rathmell Archaeology excavation procedures were followed throughout.
Findings: Desk based assessment and site inspection A desk-based assessment was undertaken in the course of these works to inform the on-site interpretation and to provide a base for the development of a post-excavation programme. Presented below are the summary of the provisional findings against core issues.
Fig 2a: Ainslie 1775
Fig 2b: Wood 1820
The Holy Trinity The original parish church built in 1112 by Bishop Turgot (Russell Walker 1888) and subsequently dedicated to the Holy Trinity by Bishop Bernhome, lay within the cathedral precinct. This building became inadequate by the late 14th century. The parish church was relocated to the present position on South Street after the gift to the church of land from Sir William Lindsay of Bynes in 1410, with the new church built between 1410 and 1412. The land gifted in the ‘Golden Charter’ was described as : All of his lands lying in the city of St Andrews in South Street on the north side thereof, between the lands of the heirs of the deceased Rankin Braboner on the west, and the common vennel leading to the Market Cross of the said city on the east’ (Rankin 1955,22) This ground is described as the southern half of six rigs, fronting onto South Street. A further grant of land in 1430 by Bishop Wardlaw, a seventh half rig, allowed the expansion of the graveyard. This seventh rig was acquired from Rankin Brabonere (Henry 1912, 62) and as such must be the ground to the west of the Holy Trinity, fronting onto Logies Lane. The graveyard was bounded by a row of houses to the north and enclosed by a wall on the other three sides. Geddy’s 1580 plan of St Andrews illustrates the church and graveyard (Fig 1) at its probable full extent. Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 2 of 24
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The closure of the graveyard to new inhumations has previously been suggested as occurring around the reformation, circa 1560 (Mackenzie & Moloney 1997). Certainly this was the first opportunity to access the later burial grounds within the Cathedral Precinct. Examination of the monumental inscriptions in the eastern burial ground indicates that the earliest surviving monuments derive from the early 1600s (Mitchell & Mitchell 1971). This may suggest that the graveyard of the Holy Trinity continued in use for several decades beyond 1560. The church was substantially altered, rebuilt and expanded at the end of the 18th century to provide accommodation for 2500 parishioners (Russell Walker 1888). Ainslie 1775 (Fig 2a) shows the structure prior to this rebuild while Wood 1820 (Fig 2b) shows the finished plan, continued in the historic Ordnance Survey plans (Fig 3a & b). A second rebuild at the start of the twentieth century attempted to restore some of the medieval character of the church and contract its size. In the course of these works excavations revealed ‘…roots of some size … suggestive of pear trees’ (Henry 1912, Simpson & Stevenson 1981).
Fig 3a: Ordnance Survey 1854
Fig 3b: Ordnance Survey 1893
The 1988 and 1991 Graveyard Excavations During December 1988 SUAT undertook evaluation and in 1991 subsequent excavation works (Mackenzie & Moloney 1997) in support of an environmental improvements scheme for Logies Lane and Church Square. These works excavated a series of linear trenches for services and rectangular tree pits across areas of the graveyard of the Holy Trinity Parish Church. The excavations lifted elements of some 121 individuals, although due to the size of trenches no whole skeletons were recovered. The vast majority of burials were aligned west to east and buried in shrouds within a homogenised graveyard soil. Very rarely a slightly altered alignment was noted or evidence of coffin furniture. Overall the evidence recovered allowed the inference that highest concentration of inhumations was at the western porch of the church with the balance of the graveyard being less intensively used. The maximum graveyard depth was 1m and at most, the skeletons were buried eight deep. Structural remains were located on the frontage onto South Street and Logies Lane that were interpreted as pre-dating the construction of the church. In addition, a demolition, or construction, horizon of shattered stone was located to the west of the Church. The structures pre-dating the Church were dated based on the overlying graveyard. This omits to recognise that the western limit of the graveyard is on the ground gifted by Bishop Wardlaw in 1420, after the completion of the Holy Trinity. Consequently these structures can only be inferred to pre-date circa 1420, contra Mackenzie & Moloney 1997. The Library Building The ground on which the Library stands was clearly an within the northwest corner of the enclosed graveyard until at least 1580 (Geddy, Fig 1). By 1745 AD (Ainslie, Fig 2a) there are small buildings lying along the northern boundary of the graveyard, on the site of the later library, but these are replaced by 1820 (Wood, Fig 2b) by a large rectangular structure. Thus Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 3 of 24
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the building that subsequently became the library was constructed in the early nineteenth century, with one source proposing a construction date of 1811, which appears credible. In 1820 Wood (Fig 2b) identifies the main building as an English School, while the neighbouring structure is identified as a Reservoir. By the 1st edition Ordnance Survey (1854) the structure is labelled as City Hall, and an internal ground plan is provided. Subsequently in the twentieth century the building was reused as the burgh’s public library.
Findings: Excavation trenches The Lift Shaft Pit (LSP) and the Underpin Trenches (UT) were opened within the Public Library, at the eastern end of the main structure against the eastern gable wall. Full descriptions of each context are contained in the appendices at the end of this report. These findings are a synthesis of the findings from these excavations. The library floor was floored with concrete slab (001) that surfaced a depth of hardcore and rubble (002). The floor surface was at 21.75m Ordnance Datum. This hardcore buried the remnants of two mortared walls (003), the former running parallel to the east gable wall with the latter running perpendicular and abutting the west side of the former. To the east of the north-south wall (003) was evidence for some floored surfaces and steps (007) within the lower horizons of the rubble. Combined these layers amounted to some 0.4m of material. Underlying the rubble and associated walls was a deep homogenised graveyard soil (004) that contained numerous articulated and disarticulated skeletal material. The articulated skeletons were generally all aligned with east to west, with their heads to the west. No grave goods were recovered from association with the inhumations. Some of the basal skeletons within the sequence appeared to be on a subtly different alignment, being slightly southwest to northeast. The heights for skeletal material from the excavation range from 21.17m to 20.17m Ordnance Datum and in total elements of some 76 articulated skeletons were lifted. No gravecuts were visible although there was clear evidence for the loss of some elements of articulated skeletons from the insertion of later burials. There was no evidence of coffins or gravegoods. A volume of broken shards of pottery, animal bone and occasional marine shell was recovered from the graveyard soil. Towards the base of the graveyard soil to layers of sand were noted (037 and 021) which appeared at the same level as a stone rich layer of the graveyard soil (004). The sand layers were clean orange sand that overlay the lower graveyard soil (067), the southern sand had an upper surface of small pebbles (77). From this pebble surface a quantity of industrial ceramics, slag, charcoal and domestic ceramics were recovered. The sand layers were clearly truncated in their lateral spread by abrupt interfaces, matching the outlines of articulated skeleton that lay at a deeper level. The stone rich layer of the graveyard (004) was formed predominantly of sub-angular sandstone fragments that proved moderately hard to excavate through. There were a limited number of gravecuts visible through this stone rich layer, although the vast majority of articulated skeletons lay above this layer. There was a notable absence of disarticulated skeletal material within and below this layer. The only articulated skeletons that were located could be matched to breaks in this stone rich layer, inferred as gravecuts showing they postdated this feature. Beneath the lower graveyard soil (067) was the natural sand subsoil (085). The sand subsoil was exposed across the bed of the LSP and on negative features were identified penetrating to a greater depth.
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Figure 4: Site Plan (Black - Library walls; Blue – Trench limits; Grey – Wall foundations)
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Fig 5: Skeleton excavation in progress
Fig 6: General view of Lift Shaft Pit during excavation
Fig 7: Context ; Extended inhumation
Fig 8: Context ; Extended inhumation
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Discussion Post-graveyard encroachment The graveyard is likely to have fallen out of use around 1600, although probably in the 1600 to 1620 period rather than 1560 as previously suggested. After this time it has been inferred from cartographic records that the graveyard was rapidly expanded into by the burgh. The structure that is used as the public library is known to have been constructed around 1811 as a school. It was later used as the City Hall before being converted into the public library. The walls (003) identified cutting into the upper surface of the graveyard soil is likely to relate in part the standing building. The known preceding structure, see Ainslie 1745 (Fig 2a) would not underlie the excavation area. Conversely, the 1st edition Ordnance Survey from 1854 (Fig 3a) shows the internal plan of the building which includes a strange internal wall at the eastern end. These walls match well with the main north to south wall, suggesting this may be the same structural features. The graveyard The graveyard is likely to have been active from 1410 (possibly 1412 when the Holy Trinity was completed) to 1600 (possibly as late as 1620). During this time the graveyard would have been the dominant burial site for the dead of the burgh. The area excavated is within the northern portion of the graveyard as formed by the 1410 gift of land to the church, as opposed to the 1412 expansion to the west. The high volume of skeletal material recovered from such a limited area (3m by 3m) contrasts with the suggestion from the earlier excavations that ‘the cemetery was used less intensively further away from the western porch’ (Cardy within Mackenzie & Moloney 1997, 155). Of insight to the scarcity of skeletal material within these service trenches outside the library may be an issue of survival of the graveyard soil. The heights for skeletal material from the excavation range from 21.17m to 20.17m Ordnance Datum. In contrast the external surface to the immediate south in Logies Lane / Church Square is at 21.29m Ordnance Datum. The 0.1m depth between road surface and potential skeletal material may suggest that the graveyard in this are may have been truncated during the early nineteenth century development of this area. Contrastingly the 1m full depth of skeletal bearing graveyard soil within the library may have been protected by the construction of the building in the early nineteenth century. The homogeneity of the graveyard soil and the lack of distinguishable grave cuts suggest a high degree of turbation through the use of the graveyard. The close proximity of the skeletons, both vertically and laterally, also reflects the high density of use. It was frequently noted that the skeletal material from different individual articulated skeletons physically touched. This close proximity of individuals has not been taken to suggest multiple inhumations in a single grave but rather through the use of shrouds in a cramp graveyard that necessitated excavating graves until human skeletal material was exposed. No evidence was noted during the excavations for the use of coffins. There was no recovery of metal coffin furniture; limbs appeared to have been tightly bound while feet bones were commonly found to have survived as a vertical stack of bones. There were no shroud pins recovered. The sequencing of inhumations can be elucidated from a more detailed examination of the stratigraphic record. In summary a vertical sequence of at least eight inhumations can be identified covering a 1m depth of graveyard soil. The sequence of height ranged plans in Appendix 1 show the density of skeletal material within a shallow depth. Construction debris The stone rubble towards the base of the graveyard soil appears to have acted as a layer that was predominantly inimical to the grave diggers. This prevented the users of the graveyard exploiting the full depth of available soft sediment, perhaps exaggerating the Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 7 of 24
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density by volume of skeletal material in the upper graveyard soil. The rubble and sand are likely to be associated with the construction or demolition of a substantive stone building prior to the use of the graveyard. The rubble fragments are sandstone and while medium sized stones were present, they were generally small fragments and none appeared to have been sculpted. The use of stone in the construction of buildings prior to 1410 is unusual within a burgh, and typically would predominantly be limited to church buildings and wealthy merchants. Given the location of the excavation, in the mid point of a rig that did not front onto a venal or wynd, it is most likely to relate to the construction of the Holy Trinity. The presence of industrial ceramics, slag and fuel suggest that this construction also involved metal fittings or furnishings of some kind. The most obvious option would be that this debris derives from the fitting out of the Holy Trinity Parish Church, although other urban structures must be a possibility. Pre-construction activity There were no identified features pre-dating the construction horizon, although the ground does lie within the early medieval burgh. The absence of features in such a small area cannot be taken as suggestive or indicative of much, although it may suggest a generally disused or horticultural use for this portion of the burgage plot. This contrasts with the suggestion from the records of the renovation of the Holy Trinity (Henry 1912, Simpson & Stevenson 1981) that the church overlay the site of an orchard. Equally the studies associated with other excavations within the graveyard, particularly in proximity to the South Street, have identified structures and pits pre-dating the arrival of the church (Mackenzie & Moloney 1997). The dating of the latter should be viewed with some caution, given that these excavations were within the rig acquired in 1420, a decade after the construction of the Holy Trinity.
Conclusion The excavations within the public library in St Andrews of the Lift Shaft Pit and Underpin Trench excavated seventy articulated human skeletons and significant quantities of disarticulated skeletal material from the graveyard of the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. The graveyard is known to have been active between circa 1410 and 1600. A horizon of construction material, including industrial ceramics and slags, was identified predating the graveyard soil. The origin of these materials is uncertain, although they may well derive from the 1400 construction of the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. These sediments all overlay the natural sands and gravels. The excavations cleared all the human skeletal material from the areas affected by the refurbishment of the public library.
References Ainslie
1745
County of Fife
Anon
1920
The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, St Andrews , Edinburgh.
Geddy
1580
Plan of St Andrews
Henry, D
1912
The Knights of St John with other mediaeval institutions and their buildings in St Andrews , St Andrews.
Mackenzie, JR and Moloney, CJ 1997
‘Medieval development and the cemetery of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Logies Lane, St
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Andrews’ Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, vol 3, 143-160. Mitchell, JF and Mitchell, S
1971
Monumental Inscriptions (pre-1855) in East Fife, unpublished archive report.
Ordnance Survey
1854
1st edition Ordnance Survey map
Ordnance Survey
1893
2nd edition Ordnance Survey map
Rankin, WEK
1955
The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, St Andrews , Edinburgh.
Russell Walker, J
1888
Pre-Reformation Churches in Fife and the Lothians, Vol 1 Fifeshire, Edinburgh.
Simpson, AT and Stevenson, S
1981
Historic St Andrews, Scottish Burgh Survey
Wood, John
1820
Plan of the city of St Andrews
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Appendix 1: Skeleton Layers Figure 9: Skeleton Layer 21.70m to 20.82m OD
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Figure 10: Skeleton Layer 20.81m to 20.61m OD
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Figure 11: Skeleton Layer 20.60m to 19.72m OD
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Appendix 2: Context Register No. 1
Location All
Description Concrete slab forming original floor level within building
2
All
Made ground of rubble comprising brick, plaster, ceramic, slate and stone
3
LS
A stone built wall aligned north to south whose base cuts into the upper surface of the underlying graveyard earth [04] while the upper portion is within made ground [02]
4 5
LS LS
The graveyard earth The foundation trench for the northsouth stone wall [03]
6 7
All UP1
The eastern gable wall of the Library A potential surface within the made ground [02]
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
UP1 UP2 LS LS UP1 UP1 LS LS UP1 UP1 LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) LS LS
The graveyard earth The graveyard earth Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Sand layer within [004] Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Sand layer within [004] Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 13 of 24
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44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78
LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Mid-brown soil horizon beneath [04] Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Pebble layer overlying [21] Sediment infilling pit in SW corner of LS Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
Appendix 3: Photographic Record Film 1
No. 00
Description View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 14 of 24
From NE
Date 02/07/03
St Andrews Library Excavation – Data Structure Report
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil Find No 11 Find no 12 Find No 13 Find No 13 Skelton 10 & 11
S SW SW S S S SW SW SW SW
Skelton 10 & 11 General shot of lift shaft pit General of UPI south after cleaning General of North side lift shaft pit General reduction General reduction General Shot
SW W S S SW SW W
Views of Mezzanine wall Views of Mezzanine wall Views of Mezzanine wall Skeleton No 13 Skeleton No 13 Skeleton No 13 Skeleton No 13 Skeleton No 12 Skeleton No 12 Excavator working Excavator working Skeleton No 18 General lift shaft
W SW SW W W N N N N W W S S
General working shot Skeleton No 18 Working Shot Skeleton No20 Working Shot Skeleton No 20 General working shot Skeleton No 18 Skeleton No 18 Working Shot Find 67 Find 70 Find 68 69 Skeleton 17 Skeleton 17 Skeleton 17 Skeleton 18 Skeleton 18
W W W W
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W N S S S W S E S S S S S
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2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Skeleton 18 Detail of feet and ankle of Skeleton 18 Detail of left femur of Sk18 overlying next skeleton Skull of Sk 18 overlying Sk19 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 22
S S N S S S S S
Skeleton No 22 Skull of Skeleton No 24 Skull of Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 25 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 19 Skeleton No 19
SW S S S S SW N NW S S
Finds 119, 120 Find 119,120 Find 119,120 Find 119,120 Skeleton No 28 Skeleton No 28 Skeleton No 23 Skeleton No’s 23,29 Skeleton No’s 23,29 Skeleton No 30 Skeleton No 30 Skeleton No 34 Skeleton No 34 Skeleton No’s 31,32 Skeleton No’s 31,32 General shot of UP1 North Mid ex Skeleton No 37 Skeleton No 37
S S S S S S S S N S S S S W W S E
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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 17 of 24
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5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Appendix 4: Human Bone; disarticulated Find No. 001 004 005 007 009 011 012 013 014 016 018 027 029 030 032 039 043 046 051 054 058 060 062 063 067 068 069 070 072 075
Context No. 04 09 04 08 04 08 08 08 08 04 09 08 04 08 08 04 08 08 04 08 04 08 04 04 08 04 04 04 08 08
Spit
Concentration
x x x
2 2
Assorted x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Skull
x x
Notes Initial Clean Initial lift slab Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Sondage
Spit Spit Spit Spit Spit Spit Spit
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Lift Slab UP1 2
x
1 2 2 2
x
x x x x x x x x
Levelling for Spit 1
Around [12]
x 1
x x x x x
2
x x
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To west [16] On top [18] To north [18] To south [18] Sondage
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087 090 092 093 106 108 111 117 119 121 127 128
04 04 08 08 04 02 08 04 04 08 04 08
132 139 141 161 170 173
08 08 04 08 08 08
174 175 177 178 180 226 228 229 230 231 248 254 270 272 273 321 322 332 345 357 358 373 375 376 391 405 407
08 04 U/S 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 67 67 04 04 04 04 04 04 US 04
2 2
x x x x
2
x x x x
2 2 2
x x x x x
x x x
3
UP1 (n) x x
x x x x x x x
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5
Around [24] Next to [28] Broken in NE corner
On ribs [41] Infant Bottom N end UP1 (n) Lower 1/2 UP1 (n) Cleaning at restart From underpin
x x x x x x x x x x x
6 6
Child by [57] Adult on [64]
x x x x x x x x x x
Mandible UP1 (mid)
Appendix 5: Human Bone; articulated Context No.
Area
Description
Skull
Left Arm
Right Arm
Spine, Pelvis, Ribs
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Left Leg
Right Leg
Mixed
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10 11 12
LS LS UP1
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
13 14 15 16 17
UP1 LS LS UP1 UP1
18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
050
048
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
033 041
035
LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
081 112
LS LS LS UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
077
094 133 101 118 / 212 120 123
360
361
053 042
056
057
214
186
185 124
187 125
095 099
136 143 / 198
Skeleton
145 150
152
Skeleton 218
142 / 197 144
371 086 116 066 097
217
188 129 130 137
189 126 131 138
377
210 / 378 396
153
146
147
148
149
157
268
394
395
219
220
156 / 269 221
154 / 222
155 / 223
159
158
166
165
224 195 190 243 260 201 205 241
225 194 191 244 261 202 206 242
266 250
267 251
Skeleton Skeleton
109
104
151
Skeleton
Skeleton
036
213
134 102
362 080 / 368 084
017
049
023 025 364
074 078 /372 370 082 085 113 115 065 064 096 098 100 / 135 103 105 110 215 216
079 / 369 083 114
Skeleton
Skeleton
047 / 365 034
022 024 055
160
Skeleton
164
Skeleton
167
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
181
256
163
162
169
168
183
182
184
193
192
196
245 259 199 049 239
246 258 203 240 209
247 257 200 204 238 207
264
265 253
263 252
208 262
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55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
232 276 280 286
234 277 281 287
235 278 282
233 279 283 288
289 295
290 296 301
291 297 302
292 298 303
308
309
310
317 326
318 327
339
340
351 347
354 349
353
237
284
285
275 293 299 304 306 311 313 314
274 294 300 305 307 312
316 320 / 397 331 329 324 323 344 338 341 336 334 352 401 348 366
319 328
337
236
367
315 330 325 343 342 335 402 350 / 399 374
385 379 384 403
388 381
389 382 386
390 380 387 404 363 38 394 356
37 395 396 355
Appendix 6: Artefact Record Find No. 002 003 006 008 010 015 019 020 021 026 028 031 040 044 045
Context No. 02 04 03 08 04 08 09 03 04 08 04 08 04 08 08
Spit 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 1 1
Pottery
Shell
x x
x
x x
Animal
x x
Notes
x x x
Tile fragment Fe Glass; Flint Fe Tile fragment Brick; Tile
x
Slag
x x
x x x x x x x x
Other
x
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052 059 061 071 073 076 088 089 091 107 122 140 171 172 176 179 227 249 255 271 333 346 359 383
04 04 08 08 08 08 04 04 04 04 04 08 08 08 04 04 04 04 04 04 67 67 04 04
2 2
392 393
04 077
x x
x
Crucible; Slag; Fe
398 400
04 04
x x
x
Crucible; Slag; Fe
406
04
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
4 4 4 5 6 6
6
x x x x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
x
x
Fe
x
Mortar
x x x
Flint; Coal Flint Coal
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x
x x x
x x
x x
x Shattered insitu
x
Appendix 7: Drawing Record No. 1
Description Plan after initial clean of skeletons and postgrayeard wall
Type Plan
Scale 1:20
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Plan of Upper Spit 2 skeletons Plan of base Spit 2 skeletons Plan of top surface Spit 3 skeletons Plans of UP1 (n) skeletons Section of UP1 (n) east face Plan of upper Spit 4 skeletons Plan of mid Spit 4 skeletons Plan of base Spit 4 skeletons Plan of top Spit 5 skeletons Plan of top Spit 6 skeletons Sections, east and west, of Lift Shaft Pit Sections, north and south, of Lift Shaft Pit Plans of UP1 (mid) skeletons
Plan Plan Plan Plan Section Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Section Section Plan
1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20
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Appendix 8: Discovery & Excavation in Scotland LOCAL AUTHORITY: PROJECT TITLE/SITE NAME: PARISH: NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR: NAME OF ORGANISATION: TYPE(S) OF PROJECT: NMRS NO(S): SITE/MONUMENT TYPE(S): SIGNIFICANT FINDS:+ NGR (2 letters, 6 figures) START DATE (this season) END DATE (this season) PREVIOUS WORK (incl. DES ref.) PROPOSED FUTURE WORK: MAIN (NARRATIVE) DESCRIPTION: (may include information from other fields)
Fife St Andrews Public Library St Andrews Thomas Rees Rathmell Archaeology Limited Excavation Medieval graveyard Human Skeletal Material; Animal Bone; Medieval & PostMedieval Pottery; Industrial Pottery; & Slag NO 5089 1667 2nd July 2003 27th August 2003 None Post-excavation analysis and reporting of materials The excavations within the public library in St Andrews of the Lift Shaft Pit and Underpin Trench excavated seventy articulated human skeletons and significant quantities of disarticulated skeletal material from the graveyard of the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. The graveyard is known to have been active between 1410AD and 1600AD. A horizon of construction material, including industrial ceramics and slags, was identified pre-dating the graveyard soil. The origin of these materials is uncertain, although they may well derive from the 1400AD construction of the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. These sediments all overlay the natural sands and gravels. The excavations cleared all the human skeletal material from the areas affected by the refurbishment of the public library.
PROJECT CODE: SPONSOR OR FUNDING BODY: ADDRESS OF MAIN CONTRIBUTOR: E MAIL: ARCHIVE LOCATION (intended/deposited)
03011 Fife Council Technical Services 8, Underwood, Kilwinning, Ayrshire KA13 7HR
[email protected] Report to F Archaeology Service and archive to National Monuments Record of Scotland.
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Contact Details Rathmell Archaeology can be contacted at its Registered Office or through the web: Rathmell Archaeology Ltd 8, Underwood Kilwinning Ayrshire KA13 7HR www.rathmell-arch.co.uk t.: m.:
01294 542848 07817 334907
f.: e.:
01294 542849
[email protected]
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St Andrews Library: Archaeological Excavation
Data Structure Report February 2003
Rathmell Archaeology Ltd
St Andrews Library Excavation – Data Structure Report
Overview This Data Structure Report (DSR) presents the initial findings of an archaeological excavation undertaken in connection with the redevelopment of the Public Library in St Andrews, Fife (NGR ref: NO 5089 1667). The Public Library occupies an early nineteenth century building that was constructed within the northwest corner of the then defunct graveyard of the Holy Trinity Parish Church. These works were initiated in response to the need to underpin the eastern gable of the library building and excavate a lift shaft pit adjacent to the same wall. Fife Council Technical Services were managing this redevelopment on behalf of Fife Council Library Services and took advice and guidance from the Archaeological Unit within Fife Council Development Services. Mr Douglas Speirs from the Archaeological Unit advised on the scope and scale of archaeological works necessary to facilitate the necessary redevelopment. Rathmell Archaeology Ltd was appointed to act on behalf of Fife Council with regard to the archaeological works. During July and August 2003 archaeological teams excavated the lift shaft pit and adjacent underpin trenches to facilitate the building works. The majority of the sediments excavated were from the graveyard, with elements of some seventy articulated skeletons lifted as well as quantities of disarticulated human skeletal material and artefacts. One distinct horizon was noted towards the base of the homogenised graveyard earth that appeared to be construction debris. This included a considerable quantity of industrial ceramics, slag and charcoal. The whole of the lift shaft pit was excavated to natural sand sediments and all human skeletal material removed from this area. The underpin trenches were cleared to the depth necessary to facilitate the underpinning of the gable wall.
Fig 1: Geddy 1580
Project Works The programme of works agreed with the Fife Council Archaeological Unit included an archaeological desk-based assessment and the excavation of the Lift Shaft Pit (LSP) and the Underpin Trench (UT). The LSP was 3m by 3m abutting the midpoint of the gable wall (Fig 4) while the UT extended along the gable wall. These works were undertaken in keeping with the agreed working protocol with on-site works running from in two sessions from 2nd July 2003 to 15th July 2003 and from 11th August 2003 to 27th August 2003. Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 1 of 24
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All articulated skeletal material was excavated and recorded as individual contexts, with skeletal material bagged in six elements, where present (skull, torso and four limbs). Disarticulated skeletal material and small finds were recovered by excavation level, while disarticulated skulls were located three dimensionally and assigned individual small find numbers. The site team was typically three archaeologists and included Mr Thomas Rees, Mr Ally Stewart, Mr Joe Ansell and Ms Laura Little. Both Mr Douglas Speirs and Mr Alastair Rees undertook site monitoring on behalf of Fife Council Development Service Archaeological Unit. The Historic Scotland monument warden also visited the site during the course of the works. This report was prepared by Mr Thomas Rees, Mr Alan Matthews and Mr Douglas Gordon. All works were conducted in accordance with the Institute of Field Archaeology’s Standards and Policy Statements and Code of Conduct and Historic Scotland Policy Statements. Rathmell Archaeology excavation procedures were followed throughout.
Findings: Desk based assessment and site inspection A desk-based assessment was undertaken in the course of these works to inform the on-site interpretation and to provide a base for the development of a post-excavation programme. Presented below are the summary of the provisional findings against core issues.
Fig 2a: Ainslie 1775
Fig 2b: Wood 1820
The Holy Trinity The original parish church built in 1112 by Bishop Turgot (Russell Walker 1888) and subsequently dedicated to the Holy Trinity by Bishop Bernhome, lay within the cathedral precinct. This building became inadequate by the late 14th century. The parish church was relocated to the present position on South Street after the gift to the church of land from Sir William Lindsay of Bynes in 1410, with the new church built between 1410 and 1412. The land gifted in the ‘Golden Charter’ was described as : All of his lands lying in the city of St Andrews in South Street on the north side thereof, between the lands of the heirs of the deceased Rankin Braboner on the west, and the common vennel leading to the Market Cross of the said city on the east’ (Rankin 1955,22) This ground is described as the southern half of six rigs, fronting onto South Street. A further grant of land in 1430 by Bishop Wardlaw, a seventh half rig, allowed the expansion of the graveyard. This seventh rig was acquired from Rankin Brabonere (Henry 1912, 62) and as such must be the ground to the west of the Holy Trinity, fronting onto Logies Lane. The graveyard was bounded by a row of houses to the north and enclosed by a wall on the other three sides. Geddy’s 1580 plan of St Andrews illustrates the church and graveyard (Fig 1) at its probable full extent. Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 2 of 24
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The closure of the graveyard to new inhumations has previously been suggested as occurring around the reformation, circa 1560 (Mackenzie & Moloney 1997). Certainly this was the first opportunity to access the later burial grounds within the Cathedral Precinct. Examination of the monumental inscriptions in the eastern burial ground indicates that the earliest surviving monuments derive from the early 1600s (Mitchell & Mitchell 1971). This may suggest that the graveyard of the Holy Trinity continued in use for several decades beyond 1560. The church was substantially altered, rebuilt and expanded at the end of the 18th century to provide accommodation for 2500 parishioners (Russell Walker 1888). Ainslie 1775 (Fig 2a) shows the structure prior to this rebuild while Wood 1820 (Fig 2b) shows the finished plan, continued in the historic Ordnance Survey plans (Fig 3a & b). A second rebuild at the start of the twentieth century attempted to restore some of the medieval character of the church and contract its size. In the course of these works excavations revealed ‘…roots of some size … suggestive of pear trees’ (Henry 1912, Simpson & Stevenson 1981).
Fig 3a: Ordnance Survey 1854
Fig 3b: Ordnance Survey 1893
The 1988 and 1991 Graveyard Excavations During December 1988 SUAT undertook evaluation and in 1991 subsequent excavation works (Mackenzie & Moloney 1997) in support of an environmental improvements scheme for Logies Lane and Church Square. These works excavated a series of linear trenches for services and rectangular tree pits across areas of the graveyard of the Holy Trinity Parish Church. The excavations lifted elements of some 121 individuals, although due to the size of trenches no whole skeletons were recovered. The vast majority of burials were aligned west to east and buried in shrouds within a homogenised graveyard soil. Very rarely a slightly altered alignment was noted or evidence of coffin furniture. Overall the evidence recovered allowed the inference that highest concentration of inhumations was at the western porch of the church with the balance of the graveyard being less intensively used. The maximum graveyard depth was 1m and at most, the skeletons were buried eight deep. Structural remains were located on the frontage onto South Street and Logies Lane that were interpreted as pre-dating the construction of the church. In addition, a demolition, or construction, horizon of shattered stone was located to the west of the Church. The structures pre-dating the Church were dated based on the overlying graveyard. This omits to recognise that the western limit of the graveyard is on the ground gifted by Bishop Wardlaw in 1420, after the completion of the Holy Trinity. Consequently these structures can only be inferred to pre-date circa 1420, contra Mackenzie & Moloney 1997. The Library Building The ground on which the Library stands was clearly an within the northwest corner of the enclosed graveyard until at least 1580 (Geddy, Fig 1). By 1745 AD (Ainslie, Fig 2a) there are small buildings lying along the northern boundary of the graveyard, on the site of the later library, but these are replaced by 1820 (Wood, Fig 2b) by a large rectangular structure. Thus Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 3 of 24
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the building that subsequently became the library was constructed in the early nineteenth century, with one source proposing a construction date of 1811, which appears credible. In 1820 Wood (Fig 2b) identifies the main building as an English School, while the neighbouring structure is identified as a Reservoir. By the 1st edition Ordnance Survey (1854) the structure is labelled as City Hall, and an internal ground plan is provided. Subsequently in the twentieth century the building was reused as the burgh’s public library.
Findings: Excavation trenches The Lift Shaft Pit (LSP) and the Underpin Trenches (UT) were opened within the Public Library, at the eastern end of the main structure against the eastern gable wall. Full descriptions of each context are contained in the appendices at the end of this report. These findings are a synthesis of the findings from these excavations. The library floor was floored with concrete slab (001) that surfaced a depth of hardcore and rubble (002). The floor surface was at 21.75m Ordnance Datum. This hardcore buried the remnants of two mortared walls (003), the former running parallel to the east gable wall with the latter running perpendicular and abutting the west side of the former. To the east of the north-south wall (003) was evidence for some floored surfaces and steps (007) within the lower horizons of the rubble. Combined these layers amounted to some 0.4m of material. Underlying the rubble and associated walls was a deep homogenised graveyard soil (004) that contained numerous articulated and disarticulated skeletal material. The articulated skeletons were generally all aligned with east to west, with their heads to the west. No grave goods were recovered from association with the inhumations. Some of the basal skeletons within the sequence appeared to be on a subtly different alignment, being slightly southwest to northeast. The heights for skeletal material from the excavation range from 21.17m to 20.17m Ordnance Datum and in total elements of some 76 articulated skeletons were lifted. No gravecuts were visible although there was clear evidence for the loss of some elements of articulated skeletons from the insertion of later burials. There was no evidence of coffins or gravegoods. A volume of broken shards of pottery, animal bone and occasional marine shell was recovered from the graveyard soil. Towards the base of the graveyard soil to layers of sand were noted (037 and 021) which appeared at the same level as a stone rich layer of the graveyard soil (004). The sand layers were clean orange sand that overlay the lower graveyard soil (067), the southern sand had an upper surface of small pebbles (77). From this pebble surface a quantity of industrial ceramics, slag, charcoal and domestic ceramics were recovered. The sand layers were clearly truncated in their lateral spread by abrupt interfaces, matching the outlines of articulated skeleton that lay at a deeper level. The stone rich layer of the graveyard (004) was formed predominantly of sub-angular sandstone fragments that proved moderately hard to excavate through. There were a limited number of gravecuts visible through this stone rich layer, although the vast majority of articulated skeletons lay above this layer. There was a notable absence of disarticulated skeletal material within and below this layer. The only articulated skeletons that were located could be matched to breaks in this stone rich layer, inferred as gravecuts showing they postdated this feature. Beneath the lower graveyard soil (067) was the natural sand subsoil (085). The sand subsoil was exposed across the bed of the LSP and on negative features were identified penetrating to a greater depth.
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Figure 4: Site Plan (Black - Library walls; Blue – Trench limits; Grey – Wall foundations)
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Fig 5: Skeleton excavation in progress
Fig 6: General view of Lift Shaft Pit during excavation
Fig 7: Context ; Extended inhumation
Fig 8: Context ; Extended inhumation
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Discussion Post-graveyard encroachment The graveyard is likely to have fallen out of use around 1600, although probably in the 1600 to 1620 period rather than 1560 as previously suggested. After this time it has been inferred from cartographic records that the graveyard was rapidly expanded into by the burgh. The structure that is used as the public library is known to have been constructed around 1811 as a school. It was later used as the City Hall before being converted into the public library. The walls (003) identified cutting into the upper surface of the graveyard soil is likely to relate in part the standing building. The known preceding structure, see Ainslie 1745 (Fig 2a) would not underlie the excavation area. Conversely, the 1st edition Ordnance Survey from 1854 (Fig 3a) shows the internal plan of the building which includes a strange internal wall at the eastern end. These walls match well with the main north to south wall, suggesting this may be the same structural features. The graveyard The graveyard is likely to have been active from 1410 (possibly 1412 when the Holy Trinity was completed) to 1600 (possibly as late as 1620). During this time the graveyard would have been the dominant burial site for the dead of the burgh. The area excavated is within the northern portion of the graveyard as formed by the 1410 gift of land to the church, as opposed to the 1412 expansion to the west. The high volume of skeletal material recovered from such a limited area (3m by 3m) contrasts with the suggestion from the earlier excavations that ‘the cemetery was used less intensively further away from the western porch’ (Cardy within Mackenzie & Moloney 1997, 155). Of insight to the scarcity of skeletal material within these service trenches outside the library may be an issue of survival of the graveyard soil. The heights for skeletal material from the excavation range from 21.17m to 20.17m Ordnance Datum. In contrast the external surface to the immediate south in Logies Lane / Church Square is at 21.29m Ordnance Datum. The 0.1m depth between road surface and potential skeletal material may suggest that the graveyard in this are may have been truncated during the early nineteenth century development of this area. Contrastingly the 1m full depth of skeletal bearing graveyard soil within the library may have been protected by the construction of the building in the early nineteenth century. The homogeneity of the graveyard soil and the lack of distinguishable grave cuts suggest a high degree of turbation through the use of the graveyard. The close proximity of the skeletons, both vertically and laterally, also reflects the high density of use. It was frequently noted that the skeletal material from different individual articulated skeletons physically touched. This close proximity of individuals has not been taken to suggest multiple inhumations in a single grave but rather through the use of shrouds in a cramp graveyard that necessitated excavating graves until human skeletal material was exposed. No evidence was noted during the excavations for the use of coffins. There was no recovery of metal coffin furniture; limbs appeared to have been tightly bound while feet bones were commonly found to have survived as a vertical stack of bones. There were no shroud pins recovered. The sequencing of inhumations can be elucidated from a more detailed examination of the stratigraphic record. In summary a vertical sequence of at least eight inhumations can be identified covering a 1m depth of graveyard soil. The sequence of height ranged plans in Appendix 1 show the density of skeletal material within a shallow depth. Construction debris The stone rubble towards the base of the graveyard soil appears to have acted as a layer that was predominantly inimical to the grave diggers. This prevented the users of the graveyard exploiting the full depth of available soft sediment, perhaps exaggerating the Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 7 of 24
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density by volume of skeletal material in the upper graveyard soil. The rubble and sand are likely to be associated with the construction or demolition of a substantive stone building prior to the use of the graveyard. The rubble fragments are sandstone and while medium sized stones were present, they were generally small fragments and none appeared to have been sculpted. The use of stone in the construction of buildings prior to 1410 is unusual within a burgh, and typically would predominantly be limited to church buildings and wealthy merchants. Given the location of the excavation, in the mid point of a rig that did not front onto a venal or wynd, it is most likely to relate to the construction of the Holy Trinity. The presence of industrial ceramics, slag and fuel suggest that this construction also involved metal fittings or furnishings of some kind. The most obvious option would be that this debris derives from the fitting out of the Holy Trinity Parish Church, although other urban structures must be a possibility. Pre-construction activity There were no identified features pre-dating the construction horizon, although the ground does lie within the early medieval burgh. The absence of features in such a small area cannot be taken as suggestive or indicative of much, although it may suggest a generally disused or horticultural use for this portion of the burgage plot. This contrasts with the suggestion from the records of the renovation of the Holy Trinity (Henry 1912, Simpson & Stevenson 1981) that the church overlay the site of an orchard. Equally the studies associated with other excavations within the graveyard, particularly in proximity to the South Street, have identified structures and pits pre-dating the arrival of the church (Mackenzie & Moloney 1997). The dating of the latter should be viewed with some caution, given that these excavations were within the rig acquired in 1420, a decade after the construction of the Holy Trinity.
Conclusion The excavations within the public library in St Andrews of the Lift Shaft Pit and Underpin Trench excavated seventy articulated human skeletons and significant quantities of disarticulated skeletal material from the graveyard of the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. The graveyard is known to have been active between circa 1410 and 1600. A horizon of construction material, including industrial ceramics and slags, was identified predating the graveyard soil. The origin of these materials is uncertain, although they may well derive from the 1400 construction of the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. These sediments all overlay the natural sands and gravels. The excavations cleared all the human skeletal material from the areas affected by the refurbishment of the public library.
References Ainslie
1745
County of Fife
Anon
1920
The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, St Andrews , Edinburgh.
Geddy
1580
Plan of St Andrews
Henry, D
1912
The Knights of St John with other mediaeval institutions and their buildings in St Andrews , St Andrews.
Mackenzie, JR and Moloney, CJ 1997
‘Medieval development and the cemetery of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Logies Lane, St
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Andrews’ Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, vol 3, 143-160. Mitchell, JF and Mitchell, S
1971
Monumental Inscriptions (pre-1855) in East Fife, unpublished archive report.
Ordnance Survey
1854
1st edition Ordnance Survey map
Ordnance Survey
1893
2nd edition Ordnance Survey map
Rankin, WEK
1955
The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, St Andrews , Edinburgh.
Russell Walker, J
1888
Pre-Reformation Churches in Fife and the Lothians, Vol 1 Fifeshire, Edinburgh.
Simpson, AT and Stevenson, S
1981
Historic St Andrews, Scottish Burgh Survey
Wood, John
1820
Plan of the city of St Andrews
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Appendix 1: Skeleton Layers Figure 9: Skeleton Layer 21.70m to 20.82m OD
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Figure 10: Skeleton Layer 20.81m to 20.61m OD
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Figure 11: Skeleton Layer 20.60m to 19.72m OD
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Appendix 2: Context Register No. 1
Location All
Description Concrete slab forming original floor level within building
2
All
Made ground of rubble comprising brick, plaster, ceramic, slate and stone
3
LS
A stone built wall aligned north to south whose base cuts into the upper surface of the underlying graveyard earth [04] while the upper portion is within made ground [02]
4 5
LS LS
The graveyard earth The foundation trench for the northsouth stone wall [03]
6 7
All UP1
The eastern gable wall of the Library A potential surface within the made ground [02]
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
UP1 UP2 LS LS UP1 UP1 LS LS UP1 UP1 LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) LS LS
The graveyard earth The graveyard earth Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Sand layer within [004] Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Sand layer within [004] Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 13 of 24
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44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78
LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Mid-brown soil horizon beneath [04] Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Pebble layer overlying [21] Sediment infilling pit in SW corner of LS Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
Appendix 3: Photographic Record Film 1
No. 00
Description View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 14 of 24
From NE
Date 02/07/03
St Andrews Library Excavation – Data Structure Report
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil View of Lift shaft pit upper surface graveyard soil Find No 11 Find no 12 Find No 13 Find No 13 Skelton 10 & 11
S SW SW S S S SW SW SW SW
Skelton 10 & 11 General shot of lift shaft pit General of UPI south after cleaning General of North side lift shaft pit General reduction General reduction General Shot
SW W S S SW SW W
Views of Mezzanine wall Views of Mezzanine wall Views of Mezzanine wall Skeleton No 13 Skeleton No 13 Skeleton No 13 Skeleton No 13 Skeleton No 12 Skeleton No 12 Excavator working Excavator working Skeleton No 18 General lift shaft
W SW SW W W N N N N W W S S
General working shot Skeleton No 18 Working Shot Skeleton No20 Working Shot Skeleton No 20 General working shot Skeleton No 18 Skeleton No 18 Working Shot Find 67 Find 70 Find 68 69 Skeleton 17 Skeleton 17 Skeleton 17 Skeleton 18 Skeleton 18
W W W W
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W N S S S W S E S S S S S
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2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Skeleton 18 Detail of feet and ankle of Skeleton 18 Detail of left femur of Sk18 overlying next skeleton Skull of Sk 18 overlying Sk19 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 22
S S N S S S S S
Skeleton No 22 Skull of Skeleton No 24 Skull of Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 25 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 24 Skeleton No 19 Skeleton No 19
SW S S S S SW N NW S S
Finds 119, 120 Find 119,120 Find 119,120 Find 119,120 Skeleton No 28 Skeleton No 28 Skeleton No 23 Skeleton No’s 23,29 Skeleton No’s 23,29 Skeleton No 30 Skeleton No 30 Skeleton No 34 Skeleton No 34 Skeleton No’s 31,32 Skeleton No’s 31,32 General shot of UP1 North Mid ex Skeleton No 37 Skeleton No 37
S S S S S S S S N S S S S W W S E
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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 17 of 24
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5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Appendix 4: Human Bone; disarticulated Find No. 001 004 005 007 009 011 012 013 014 016 018 027 029 030 032 039 043 046 051 054 058 060 062 063 067 068 069 070 072 075
Context No. 04 09 04 08 04 08 08 08 08 04 09 08 04 08 08 04 08 08 04 08 04 08 04 04 08 04 04 04 08 08
Spit
Concentration
x x x
2 2
Assorted x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Skull
x x
Notes Initial Clean Initial lift slab Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Levelling for Sondage
Spit Spit Spit Spit Spit Spit Spit
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Lift Slab UP1 2
x
1 2 2 2
x
x x x x x x x x
Levelling for Spit 1
Around [12]
x 1
x x x x x
2
x x
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To west [16] On top [18] To north [18] To south [18] Sondage
St Andrews Library Excavation – Data Structure Report
087 090 092 093 106 108 111 117 119 121 127 128
04 04 08 08 04 02 08 04 04 08 04 08
132 139 141 161 170 173
08 08 04 08 08 08
174 175 177 178 180 226 228 229 230 231 248 254 270 272 273 321 322 332 345 357 358 373 375 376 391 405 407
08 04 U/S 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 67 67 04 04 04 04 04 04 US 04
2 2
x x x x
2
x x x x
2 2 2
x x x x x
x x x
3
UP1 (n) x x
x x x x x x x
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5
Around [24] Next to [28] Broken in NE corner
On ribs [41] Infant Bottom N end UP1 (n) Lower 1/2 UP1 (n) Cleaning at restart From underpin
x x x x x x x x x x x
6 6
Child by [57] Adult on [64]
x x x x x x x x x x
Mandible UP1 (mid)
Appendix 5: Human Bone; articulated Context No.
Area
Description
Skull
Left Arm
Right Arm
Spine, Pelvis, Ribs
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Left Leg
Right Leg
Mixed
St Andrews Library Excavation – Data Structure Report
10 11 12
LS LS UP1
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
13 14 15 16 17
UP1 LS LS UP1 UP1
18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
050
048
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
033 041
035
LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
081 112
LS LS LS UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) UP1 (N) LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
077
094 133 101 118 / 212 120 123
360
361
053 042
056
057
214
186
185 124
187 125
095 099
136 143 / 198
Skeleton
145 150
152
Skeleton 218
142 / 197 144
371 086 116 066 097
217
188 129 130 137
189 126 131 138
377
210 / 378 396
153
146
147
148
149
157
268
394
395
219
220
156 / 269 221
154 / 222
155 / 223
159
158
166
165
224 195 190 243 260 201 205 241
225 194 191 244 261 202 206 242
266 250
267 251
Skeleton Skeleton
109
104
151
Skeleton
Skeleton
036
213
134 102
362 080 / 368 084
017
049
023 025 364
074 078 /372 370 082 085 113 115 065 064 096 098 100 / 135 103 105 110 215 216
079 / 369 083 114
Skeleton
Skeleton
047 / 365 034
022 024 055
160
Skeleton
164
Skeleton
167
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
181
256
163
162
169
168
183
182
184
193
192
196
245 259 199 049 239
246 258 203 240 209
247 257 200 204 238 207
264
265 253
263 252
208 262
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55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS
Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton Skeleton
232 276 280 286
234 277 281 287
235 278 282
233 279 283 288
289 295
290 296 301
291 297 302
292 298 303
308
309
310
317 326
318 327
339
340
351 347
354 349
353
237
284
285
275 293 299 304 306 311 313 314
274 294 300 305 307 312
316 320 / 397 331 329 324 323 344 338 341 336 334 352 401 348 366
319 328
337
236
367
315 330 325 343 342 335 402 350 / 399 374
385 379 384 403
388 381
389 382 386
390 380 387 404 363 38 394 356
37 395 396 355
Appendix 6: Artefact Record Find No. 002 003 006 008 010 015 019 020 021 026 028 031 040 044 045
Context No. 02 04 03 08 04 08 09 03 04 08 04 08 04 08 08
Spit 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 1 1
Pottery
Shell
x x
x
x x
Animal
x x
Notes
x x x
Tile fragment Fe Glass; Flint Fe Tile fragment Brick; Tile
x
Slag
x x
x x x x x x x x
Other
x
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052 059 061 071 073 076 088 089 091 107 122 140 171 172 176 179 227 249 255 271 333 346 359 383
04 04 08 08 08 08 04 04 04 04 04 08 08 08 04 04 04 04 04 04 67 67 04 04
2 2
392 393
04 077
x x
x
Crucible; Slag; Fe
398 400
04 04
x x
x
Crucible; Slag; Fe
406
04
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
4 4 4 5 6 6
6
x x x x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
x
x
Fe
x
Mortar
x x x
Flint; Coal Flint Coal
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x
x x x
x x
x x
x Shattered insitu
x
Appendix 7: Drawing Record No. 1
Description Plan after initial clean of skeletons and postgrayeard wall
Type Plan
Scale 1:20
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Plan of Upper Spit 2 skeletons Plan of base Spit 2 skeletons Plan of top surface Spit 3 skeletons Plans of UP1 (n) skeletons Section of UP1 (n) east face Plan of upper Spit 4 skeletons Plan of mid Spit 4 skeletons Plan of base Spit 4 skeletons Plan of top Spit 5 skeletons Plan of top Spit 6 skeletons Sections, east and west, of Lift Shaft Pit Sections, north and south, of Lift Shaft Pit Plans of UP1 (mid) skeletons
Plan Plan Plan Plan Section Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Section Section Plan
1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20 1:20
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Appendix 8: Discovery & Excavation in Scotland LOCAL AUTHORITY: PROJECT TITLE/SITE NAME: PARISH: NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR: NAME OF ORGANISATION: TYPE(S) OF PROJECT: NMRS NO(S): SITE/MONUMENT TYPE(S): SIGNIFICANT FINDS:+ NGR (2 letters, 6 figures) START DATE (this season) END DATE (this season) PREVIOUS WORK (incl. DES ref.) PROPOSED FUTURE WORK: MAIN (NARRATIVE) DESCRIPTION: (may include information from other fields)
Fife St Andrews Public Library St Andrews Thomas Rees Rathmell Archaeology Limited Excavation Medieval graveyard Human Skeletal Material; Animal Bone; Medieval & PostMedieval Pottery; Industrial Pottery; & Slag NO 5089 1667 2nd July 2003 27th August 2003 None Post-excavation analysis and reporting of materials The excavations within the public library in St Andrews of the Lift Shaft Pit and Underpin Trench excavated seventy articulated human skeletons and significant quantities of disarticulated skeletal material from the graveyard of the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. The graveyard is known to have been active between 1410AD and 1600AD. A horizon of construction material, including industrial ceramics and slags, was identified pre-dating the graveyard soil. The origin of these materials is uncertain, although they may well derive from the 1400AD construction of the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. These sediments all overlay the natural sands and gravels. The excavations cleared all the human skeletal material from the areas affected by the refurbishment of the public library.
PROJECT CODE: SPONSOR OR FUNDING BODY: ADDRESS OF MAIN CONTRIBUTOR: E MAIL: ARCHIVE LOCATION (intended/deposited)
03011 Fife Council Technical Services 8, Underwood, Kilwinning, Ayrshire KA13 7HR
[email protected] Report to F Archaeology Service and archive to National Monuments Record of Scotland.
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Contact Details Rathmell Archaeology can be contacted at its Registered Office or through the web: Rathmell Archaeology Ltd 8, Underwood Kilwinning Ayrshire KA13 7HR www.rathmell-arch.co.uk t.: m.:
01294 542848 07817 334907
f.: e.:
01294 542849
[email protected]
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