The find, as part of a dig on the tram route between York Place and Newhaven, is believed to be the oldest part of the famous thoroughfare, with the cobble-lined causeway between 600-900 years old.
Whatever else they uncover, it will be added to the fascinating history of one of Edinburgh’s longest and oldest streets.
9. Alhambra cinema
The former Alhambra cinema at the Foot of Leith Walk, taken around 1959. The Alhambra Theatre was opened in 1914 as a ‘Theatre of Varieties’, with seats for 1,550 people. In March 1915 it began playing cine-variety programmes. The cinema screened its first ‘talkie’ “Two Weeks Off” starring Dorothy Macall and Jack Millhall on 5th August 1929. It closed in 1958, and the building was boarded up, before eventually being demolished in 1974. Photo: Unknown
10. The Greenside gap
The Greenside gap-site was a massive hole in the ground at the top of Leith Walk in Edinburgh for nearly 40 years, with various plans put forward over the years including a new BBC Scotland headquarters, before the Omni Centre was built in 2002. Photo: Stanley Hunter
11. Time capsules
The statue of Queen Victoria was removed from the bottom of Leith Walk for restoration work, and workers found two time capsules filled with old newspapers dating from 1907. Photo: Sean Bell
12. The Elm Row pigeons
The flock of plump bronze pigeons which have become a much-loved part of Elm Row were created by highly acclaimed artist Shona Kinloch and unveiled in 1996, sponsored by local businesses Their disappearance, when they were removed for work on the city's tram project in 2006, caused a great deal of local anger. Photo: Phil Wilkinson