Leith tram site archaeologists are rescuing precious remains from old graveyard – Helen Martin

Work on Edinburgh’s tram extension may be being delayed by the need to excavate the graveyard outside South Leith Parish Church, but it’s worthwhile, writes Helen Martin

An archaeologist uncovers a skull dating back around 500 yearsin Leith (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

I was walking past the archaeologists working on the tram route outside South Leith Parish Church, when I asked one of the specialists about the skeletons found there and if they were going to be reburied.

That wasn’t up to them, as obviously they were analysing the remains, but he explained they were in part of the church cemetery that was used as the basis of the road.

Back in those old days, the road wasn’t just built on top of them, but pipes and other underground connections were laid there too with the workers at the time ignoring, shifting and laying their pipes in whatever route they wanted, regardless of the graves, skeletons and bones.

He also thought there might be reburial but was certain that the church would hold a blessing for those late Leithers who had been laid there at least 500 years ago.

I know the Scotsman and Evening News have covered this but just thought it would be a helpful response to readers’ online messages which included: “Was it a soldier killed in action or someone missing and never found?”, or “Could it be some Leither’s grandad or granny?” The answer to both is probably “no”!

Also, someone else felt they should be left in peace. But given what their bones had been through before, I feel the archaeologists were “rescuing” them before the trams thundered over.

It may be causing some delay to the tram progress but it’s good to know that today they are carefully removed and not just mashed and broken up under construction and pipe networks as in the past.

And good to know the Church still regards them as “their own”.

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