Dig Diary for January 2008

January

A fresh start to the year saw the excavation of Areas 1 and 2 of the site complete and the areas being backed filled, to the relief of Project Officers Aimee and Hamish. Excavation was still incomplete in three others areas of the site, these were Area 3, Areas 4/5, and Area 6.

Map of excavation areas

Area 4 consists of series of foundations and wall footings for tenement buildings, with coal bunkers, which front on to MacKinlay Street. A large circular brick culvert was also uncovered in this area, and runs north to south.

A brick culvert was uncovered (click on above image for larger version)

Wall footings for tenement buildings (click on above image for larger version)

The foundations of the dressed stone frontage of the tenements buildings have survived in this area. Stone lined drains were uncovered under the northern gable end of the MacKinlay Street frontage. This is unusual as the drains were found under a load-bearing wall. In the northern part of Area 4, two sets of spiral staircases were uncovered together with drains and wall footings. These are thought to have been internal staircases.

Remains of a spiral staircase (click on above image for larger version)

Tramlines used to run up and down MacKinlay Street and can be seen on old maps. The remains of these were uncovered under the modern tarmac road surface, and provided a moment of fun for the team.

The team travels along the remains of the tramlines (click on above image for larger version)

Area 3 is located in the south-east corner of the site. Historic maps show of a church hall and a pub in this area, fronting onto Turriff Street. Very little of the church walls were found to survive. Due to the limited survival, this area was excavated and backfilled in three weeks.

Area 6 is located on the eastern side of Pollokshaws Road, away from the main site. Remains uncovered in this area consisted of footings of tenement buildings that fronted onto Pollokshaws Road, and the remains of a small industrial building to the back of the tenements. The industrial building consisted of a brick built boiler and chimney base. A large amount of coal was uncovered in the demolition deposits, which suggests that the boiler may have been coal fired. Three large millstones were found in the demolition deposit, these might have been possibly connected to the building.

The excavation of the site is expected to be complete on Friday 15th February.

Pollockshaws Road excavation team (click on above image for larger version)