An archaeological excavation is currently being undertaken on the site of the South Leith Parish Church graveyard on Constitution Street after discovery of centuries old human remains. The excavations are conducted by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd for tie Ltd and the City of Edinburgh Council's Archaeology Service in advance of the construction of Edinburgh Trams.
The City of Edinburgh's Archaeologist identified Constitution Street at the beginning of the trams project as a highly sensitive archaeological zone, principally because of its proximity to the early medieval core of Leith and the later 16th & 17th century town defences.
Archaeologists from Headland have been monitoring all the utility diversion work on Constitution Street and have made some significant discoveries including new evidence for the medieval and later town, and previously unknown sections of the 16th & 17th century town defences.
Perhaps most important amongst these discoveries was the unexpected unearthing of burials below the street outside South Leith Parish Church graveyard.
John Lawson, City Archaeologist, said: "Since the archaeological excavations began in mid-April, 18 burials have been recovered. Some of them appear to have been partially disturbed by various cuts, possibly associated with construction work in the 18th century when the tenements where built, and most recently by modern services.
The unearthed human remains are currently being carefully recorded and lifted by archaeologists. They will be temporarily stored at Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd premises pending further study of the bones. Detailed analysis of the skeletal material will reveal a lot more information on the medieval and post medieval population of Leith including their age, sex, build, diet and pathology."