What Happened to Scottish Archaeology During the Pandemic?
Thanks to the excavation of a medieval graveyard in Leith, the Edinburgh Tram project has been one of the highest-profile digs in Scotland in 2020 – but what happened when COVID-19 brought everything to a halt? [NOTE: Article contains videos with images of human remains]
The Archaeologist for the City of Edinburgh Council, John Lawson, shines a light on what happened to the sector:
What happened when lockdown arrived?
We had just finished taking down the listed wall (meaning it’s of ‘special’ architectural or historic interest) at the graveyard associated with South Leith Parish Church of St Mary’s and were about to start excavation when the lockdown was called. So from a practical project management point of view it actually hit at “the right time” for us since we hadn’t started excavating the graveyard (not that there’s ever a “right time”). The site was securely fenced off and regularly monitored.
Fieldwork then effectively stopped in Scotland during in March, April and May and we were working from home like all local authority archaeologists (archaeologists working for local authorities). We used this time to focus on the behind-the-scenes work on the project, agree methodologies for new fieldwork, and gear up for restarting.
We also spent a lot of time reviewing planning applications. Archaeology is part of the planning process, so the local authority archaeologists monitor planning applications submitted by developers and planners and assess them for archaeological impact. This is to ensure that the work is undertaken correctly, and that the historic environment is taken care of.
For example, if someone wanted to build a new hotel in Edinburgh’s Old Town, they would have to submit a planning application. As part of the process, they would hire a commercial unit and they would submit a brief to the local authority archaeologist which explains how they’re going to ensure that the historic environment will be taken care of.
Site visits usually take place as well, but that couldn’t happen during lockdown. Instead, we had to rely more on online resources and the ‘new normal’ of online meetings.
Image Credit: CEC Trams to Newhaven
What’s changed for the archaeologists as a result of COVID-19?
The main difference was coping with changes in working regulations. Rather than having a team of ten excavating side by side, for example, they needed to be socially distanced. Our solution was to have a linear site which was subdivided into 5m strips with one person per 5m area. How we got to the site also changed (carpooling and public transportation were no longer encouraged) and our temperature is now taken each day.
One of the biggest changes was to public engagement, which has always been a big element of the project. Early in the year, we invited members of the public to come along to do some finds washing and ended up with about 60 volunteers on the list. Unfortunately, we couldn’t have them on site after COVID-19 hit. Plans for tours and open days were also scrapped.
Luckily, we still had a regularly supply of people walking past the site and looking in. We were initially concerned about groups gathering to read the signs, but people were used to social distancing by this point and there was 90m of graveyard to look at, so they weren’t crowding.
Like many heritage organisations, we also turned to social media. The weekly vlogs have been popular and it’s something we’re interested in bringing to other sites. Now that people are more comfortable with the technology, it would be great to combine them with volunteering opportunities and tours when it’s safe to do so.
Why was it important to continue to engage with members of the community during the pandemic?
That’s what we do our job for. Basically, all archaeology is – at its core – done for the public benefit. In essence, we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for what is effectively people’s interest in our past. The developer has to pay for it because it’s for the public benefit.
It’s a classic piece of environmental protection law – the ‘polluter pays’ principle – which says that when there’s a threat, you mitigate it – and who pays? The developer. It’s the same for the green environment or archaeology.
In essence, archaeology is undertaken for the wider public benefit. It’s an opportunity to show them something, whether this is through a one-to-one chat, a group tour or a report. Archaeologists have a duty to tell people (even if there’s not much to see). It’s the core of all archaeology.
Image Credit: CEC Trams to Newhaven
What’s been found in Edinburgh during the pandemic?
The highest profile excavation was the medieval cemetery at South East Parish Church which is over 700 years old. As part of the tram work, we also uncovered bits of a medieval road on Leith Walk, whale bones which may have been “trophies” brought home to Leith as far back as the 18th century and a small iron cannonball which is believed to date from a time when Leith was under the control of Oliver Cromwell’s forces.
Elsewhere, in advance of two major new developments which will see over 1,500 new homes and a new school being constructed, two other interesting sites were also unearthed near Edinburgh Airport at areas known as West Craigs and Meadowfield.
On either side of lockdown, AOC Archaeology Group uncovered a well-preserved late-Iron Age palisaded enclosure at West Craigs Farm . The excavation recovered a lot of artefacts left behind over 2,000 years ago such as pottery and quern stones (used for grinding materials such as grain to make flour) which is unusual for a site in Edinburgh. CFA Archaeology working next door at Meadowfield Farm also unearthed a wide range of even earlier Neolithic and Bronze Age remains, as well as part of the medieval farm.
These two sites are adding a lot to the prehistoric and medieval landscape and they’re going to be important in terms of how we understand this area. Most archaeology in Edinburgh happens in the city which means it’s medieval and later, so it’s great to see more prehistoric finds coming through.
Will members of the public be able to get involved in onsite archaeology again when the pandemic is over?
I’m confident that we’ll get back to normal with the vaccinations next year. It may take months, but it’ll happen. Life will get back to normal at some point.
Volunteer groups such as the Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society, for example, were able to continue their work. During the summer, they were socially distancing while investigating 18th and 19th century buildings at Cammo Estate, which was once home to one of Edinburgh’s grandest mansions.
Like the natural environment, people have also taken a real interest in their local heritage and what’s on their doorstep. More people seem to be using social media to engage, discovering opportunities through projects like Dig It!, tuning into Zoom lectures and attending online conferences. I hope this interested is fostered and will continue in 2021 and beyond.
By John Lawson, regional archaeologist for the City of Edinburgh Council. John has been managing the archaeology and heritage aspects of project and working with Turner & Townsend, Morrison Utility Services (MUS) and GUARD Archaeology Limited on the site in Leith since November 2019.
Header Image: Tram Construction Works cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Graeme Yuill – geograph.org.uk/p/6432236
