Elizabethan coin and old bullets found
Artefacts dug up during King’s Park path refurb
A 16th century silver coin and ammunition from Stirling’s 19th century rifle range were among artefacts found during a recent archaeological excavation at King’s Park.
The ‘Phase Three’ excavation of the area including metal detecting – commissioned and funded by Stirling Council – was carried out in conjunction with the refurbishment of the public footpath at King’s Park.
According to a report carried out by AOC Archaeology Group the coin and ammunition stand out as archaeologically significant.
The AOC report states: ‘[The] collection of shot and bullets are those which must have accidentally overshot the eastern extent of the rifle range, a dangerous problem that is recorded in contemporary newspapers which note that complaints had been made by the public of stray bullets and the methods undertaken to remedy the situation.
‘The assemblage provides a valuable snapshot of an aspect of 19th century history of the King’s Park which complements surviving historical accounts.’
The Elizabeth I silver threepence coin dates from 1561-5 and is said to be in ‘fairly poor condition’ with the surfaces ‘heavily scuffed and the shape distorted.’ The mint date is illegible.
Ammunition relating to the 19th century rifle range makes up the majority of finds recovered during the metal detecting survey.
The archaeologists’ report states: ‘Of the 75 ammunition related objects retrieved, four are round ball bullets, 41 are identifiable cylindro-conoidal bullets, and 25 are heavily impacted lead shot, one base plug, three blank cartridge casings, and one lead long-box slug were also recovered.
‘[They] trace the general progression of firearm technology from around the 1830s up to the late nineteenth century and into the early 20th century.
‘The bullet types range from the round-ball bullets, Minie bullets and .577 bullets associated with the muzzleloaded rifles of the early to mid19th century, to the .577/.45 calibre Martini-Henry, .303 Lee-Metford, and .440 bullets associated with the breechloaded rifles of the later 19th and early 20th century.’
Other items found during the excavation include a small amount of ceramic fragments, including a clay pipe, bottle glass shards and a range of 19th to 20th century dress accessories like two copper alloy buckles, a gilt button and a King George VI coronation cap badge.
Stirling Council archaeologist Murray Cook said the finds reflected the use of the park down the ages.
He said: “We have evidence across the entire span of human activity in Scotland from just after the ice age to World War I.
“The coin will have just dropped from someone’s pocket. It will have been sorely missed. An Elizabethan coin also reflects the period when Stirling went from being the favourite home of the Stuart monarchs to a regional backwater after James VI became James I of England.”