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Medieval Village discovered in the Scottish Borders

GUARD Archaeology recently completed an archaeological watching brief at Yarrowford, near Selkirk and found the remains of what looks like a medieval village.

The archaeological watching brief was carried out on behalf of Scottish Water, along the route of a new water pipeline which traversed the site of the 1645 Battle of Philiphaugh and skirted the edge of a Scheduled Ancient Monument identified from aerial photographs as a possible Anglian settlement.

The GUARD Archaeology team, led by Alan Hunter Blair, kept a close watch as the machine excavator dug the pipeline in order to spot and then clean any potential archaeological features.

A number of wall foundations, cobbled surfaces and a hearth were discovered and recorded, as well as a jug handle of Scottish medieval redware pottery, datable to the 14 century AD and a decorated spindle whorl, which appears to be medieval too. The extent and quality of the archaeological remains likely represent part of a medieval village. It is expected that the forthcoming post-excavation analyses will make an important contribution to the archaeological evidence for rural medieval settlement in the Scottish Borders.

Aerial view of the site
Aerial view of the site
cobbles uncovered during excavation
cobbles uncovered during excavation
One of the walls uncovered
One of the walls uncovered