Archaeological find in Kirkgate, Perth

What was originally routine work on the waste water network in Perth city centre has turned into an exciting archaeological discovery from the 12th century.

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Scottish Water replaced the waste water network in the Kirkgate area of Perth, and this work has led to some deep excavations in order to access the pipes that lie deep underground.

As the squad were digging up the road at the High Street end of the Kirkgate, SUAT Ltd, a firm of independent archaeological contractors, had been brought in to record and photograph the archaeological deposits exposed in the side of the trench. This led to the discovery of an ancient belt buckle made from copper alloy or bronze that would probably have belonged to a merchant in the medieval burgh.

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Derek Hall, Depute Director of SUAT said:

“Perth’s medieval archaeology is amongst the best preserved in Scotland and there has been little previous opportunity to investigate the area around the Kirkgate, one of the earliest streets in the burgh.

Aside from the recovery of the buckle we were also able to record a sequence of earlier street levels which were interleaved with layers of rubbish and midden. This short exercise has provided a useful reminder of just what lies beneath the streets of modern Perth.”

What lies beneath the streets of Perth

Derek Ogilvie, Regional Manager for Scottish Water, said:

“Scottish Water met the costs of the archaeologists that were drafted in by Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust to investigate the findings. At Scottish Water we have a policy that any of our excavation work ensures that any sites of archaeological interest are protected.

Our work in the Kirkgate is essential to improve the waste water network for the people of Perth, as there were issues with a collapsed sewer under the ground.”

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