Archaeological Excavation at St Mary’s RC Primary School
The excavation conducted in the school playground revealed 81 burials interred in coffins and burial pits. Adults and children of all ages were represented; pathological conditions and skeletal evidence of hard, heavy work were recorded. Domestic items such as coins, keys, sewing kits and combs were found on the bodies. Further scientific analyses have confirmed that the human remains were victims of the Plague of 1645 in Leith. The human remains were reinterred at a recommittal ceremony at Rosebank Cemetery in March 2018. The results will be published in Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports online. Information boards were produced by Wardell Armstrong for the school as part of the community engagement element of the project.
