Tartan Day at the Kirk
24/07/08
A free illustrated talk on the 2006 excavation of the West Kirk of St Nicholas, Union Street, will be given on Tartan Day, Saturday, 2 August, by Aberdeen City Council’s assistant archaeologist, Alison Cameron who was the director of the dig.
The Kirk of St Nicholas will be open from 10am to 4pm with the first talk at 11am and the second at 2.30pm. The talks are free and last approximately 50 minutes followed by a question and answer session.
Although the talks are free donations can be given to assist the East Kirk Project. A booklet written by Alison Cameron and Chris Croly, assistant keeper (research) will be available to purchase on the day.
The 2006 excavation revealed evidence of up to 1,000 years of the development of the church and before. Three phases of church building took place before the end of the 12th century. Much of the 15th century east-end was revealed as well as new information about the 1874 fire.
The talk will include a summary of what was uncovered on the dig and will update people on the post-excavation. Nearly 1,000 skeletons were excavated and all the bones, plus large quantities of disarticulated bone are being studied at Glasgow University.
Initial findings included evidence for syphilis, scoliosis and osteoporosis, as well as evidence of hundreds of older individuals suffered from osteoarthritis. Over 20 men had evidence of fatal blade wounds and one woman who probably died in childbirth.
The burials date from between the 12th century (or slightly earlier) and the 18th century, so styles of burial vary enormously. The earlier burials were in wooden log and stone settings, while the later ones were in well-preserved coffins. Cloth survived from the older burials as it did from the later burials.
Several individuals were buried with evidence that they had made a pilgrimage. Two individuals who had been buried with scallop shells may have visited the cathedral in Santiago de Compostella in North-west Spain.
Thousands of objects were recovered during the excavation, many of which are still in the process of being conserved and studied.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
