Digging is on right track
Archaelogical sites open again to public
THIS SUMMER Scotland Digs 2021 will shine a spotlight on the world-class archaeology which is conducted all over the country. In East Lothian it is hoped that more fieldwork will uncover Scotland’s first railway at Cockenzie.
The 1722 Waggonway Heritage Group hope to complete the final phase of salt pan excavations in Cockenzie, telling a fuller story of the region’s 17th-century salt making industry. Their work was interrupted by the pandemic last year.
The team will also pick up the search for Scotland’s first railway where they left off in 2019, opening up a longer stretch of the Waggonway track with the hope of establishing exactly how it was constructed, while adding to the understanding of the United Kingdom’s early railways. Visitors and volunteers will be welcome at both events with no experience required to participate.
Dr Jeff Sanders, Project Manager at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland’s Dig It! project, said: “A summer of discovery is an exciting prospect and we’re thrilled that many of these sites are able to open up to the public again. Whether they’re community or development led, each one will help add a new chapter to a bigger story. And as Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy outlines, uncovering new stories helps create a connection to past peoples, gives a sense of perspective on what it means to be human, and helps us imagine how the future can be different.”
Amy Eastwood, Head of Grants at
Historic Environment Scotland, said: “We are delighted to support Scotland Digs 2021. This is a fantastic incentive to get people of all ages in Scotland involved in archaeology and a great opportunity for volunteers to get hands on fun with excavations and explore the fascinating stories of Scotland’s past.”
Ed Bethune, Chairman at the 1722 Waggonway Heritage Group, said: “We’re excited to finally have the chance to expose more of the Waggonway and get a full understanding of how it was constructed, and hopefully finding some evidence of the people who operated it. We’ll also be getting stuck back into a 17th century salt pan house in Cockenzie where we hope to find more evidence of the internal structures, including the furnace. As part of East Lothian Council Archaeology Fortnight later in September, we’ll also be running a public test pit exercise alongside our main site, where we hope to test the level of preservation of the Waggonway track at intervals along
the route.”
The campaign will bring together live updates and events until 22 September. DigItScotland.com