ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIND
Due to its close proximity to Hully Hill, the new building site at the Interchange Industrial Park, Newbridge was under the supervision of an archaeologist. Although he did not know it at the time, this person was, to make a significant find and add considerably to our knowledge of Local History.
Hully Hill ©
During early February 2001, as the topsoil was being scraped away, this gentleman observed a large patch of discoloured earth indicative of the ground having been disturbed in earlier times.
Work was at once suspended in this vicinity and an area approximately 8x10 feet was opened up.
The area is almost figure of eight shaped. In the first pit, traces of harness metalwork have been found and in the second the remains of a burial cart. It is believed that the cart is complete. To date the dig is only a few inches deep and will take some time to complete.
It is also thought that the cart is upside down, and as the work of excavation progresses, it is hoped that other burial items will be found lying underneath, or within the cart.
It is only the metal pieces of the chariot that have survived, the wood and leather having long since rotted away. The horse’s bridles have survived, as have rivets from the traces. The wood of the wheels has rotted away, allowing the metal rims to collapse, so that they now resemble flat pieces of railway track. No bones as yet have been found and it is believed that these too may have rotted away.
This photograph shows a reconstruction of a cart from the same period
Chariot ©
This object is the only one of its kind found in Scotland and is dated at circa 250BC. The nearest other such find is in Yorkshire, some 200 miles away.
It has since been established that this find is earleir than 500BC and pre dates the English find by some 200 years and falls into the same time period as chariots found in France.
Foundations of a building and fragments of pottery have also been found. However, these are considered less important and will be excavated later.
The find is probably the most important in living memory and will no doubt outshine the other finds in our area over the years: -
A fibula or clasp (used for fixing belts). It is the only known specimen of its kind in Scotland and is probably not of local workmanship, resembling those found in Anglo Saxon graves in England. See article on Gogarburn House.
A gold ring described as very thin and hollow. This is also very rare and only one other has been found in Scotland.
A Roman milestone. The only one found in Scotland.
A bronze age axe head.
Iron cannonball three and five sixteenth inches in diameter, showing traces of lead on the exterior, found in garden adjoining the scene of the skirmish between Cromwell and General Leslie at Gogar 1650. See article on Hanley House.
Add to that the discovery of two Roman Camps in our area, previous archaeological finds and digs, the standing stones and you will realise that this area must have been extremely important to the previous inhabitants.
Like many of us, I look forward to seeing the Cart when finally exposed and reading the report about it in due course.
The site was closed on 12th March 2001 when the burial cart was removed; an event which was broadcast on national radio news bulletins.
Sketch of Site ©
The central rectangle consisted of the remains of the shaft.
The two smaller rectangles consisted of the remains of the wheel rims, which have flattened as the wheels themselves rotted away.
The drawing is not to scale. However it is based on eye witness accounts.
The remains of some of the metal parts of the bridles were found on either side of the shaft. It is believed that a tooth and some other objects were also found in the space between the wheels where the floor of the chariot/cart would have been.
The local Coucillor John Longstaff was one of the few visitors allowed on the site and he took the following photograph.
Excavation ©