Latest SAIR Publications now Online
The newest publications of the Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports (SAIR) series are out now! SAIRs 40 and 41 are two very different excavation reports, the former being a multi-period site, the latter of Medieval and Post-Medieval remains.
The CBA has hosted SAIR publications since the project’s conception and pilot in 2001. In all, there are now 41 reports available, including the popular Scotland’s First Settlers (SFS) project report. More details can be found on the SAIR website. SAIR is a joint publication venture between the CBA, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Historic Scotland. For more titles from the CBA, see our Publications and Books sections.
SAIR 40
Artefactual, Environmental and Archaeological Evidence from the Holyrood Parliament Site Excavations
by Holyrood Archaeology Project Team: Gordon G Barclay and Anna Ritchie (Editors)
A summary of these specialist reports (Parts 1 and 2) was published in 2008 in the monograph on the Holyrood Parliament Site Project: Scotland’s Parliament Site and the Canongate: Archaeology and History by the Holyrood Archaeology Project Team, Chapter 3.9 & 3.10 (HAPT 2008). Except for sections 3.9 and 3.10, Chapter 3 in that monograph has been repeated here as Part 3, in order to provide the archaeological context for the artefactual and environmental evidence alongside the specialist reports.
SAIR 41
Excavations on the Site of Balmerino House, Constitution Street, Leith
by Ross HM White and Chris O’Connell, plus contributors.
The remains of the front of Balmerino House, built in 1631, were uncovered during an archaeological excavation at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, Constitution Street, Leith. The work also revealed several phases of medieval to post-medieval activity, and a small burial ground which predated the house. The earliest feature uncovered by the excavation was a well containing 13th- to 14th-century pottery. Large quantities of late to post-medieval pottery were recovered, as well as iron objects, glass and bone. The human remains comprised six adult males, although some were incomplete due to later disturbance. Of importance to the history of clay tobacco pipe manufacture in Scotland is a small assemblage of clay-pipe wasters and kiln waste dated c1630–40. The work was sponsored by Gregor Properties Ltd.
