Glimpse of medieval trade revealed along the River Forth Archaeology team are keen to find out more about it.
Over two weeks in September, the Cambuskenneth Harbours project brought together a wide range of experts and local volunteers to investigate the medieval harbour of Cambuskenneth Abbey, which lies on the River Forth near Stirling. Founded by the Scottish king David I in around 1140, Cambuskenneth Abbey had a strong influence on the development of medieval Stirling.
School pupils from St Ninian’s Primary School uncovering the medieval harbour of Cambuskenneth Abbey © GUARD Archaeology Ltd
During the excavations, which were led by GUARD Archaeologist, Warren Bailie, a large portion of the medieval harbour was discovered. Medieval pottery sherds from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries were recovered from the base of the harbour, which comprised of a stepped dry-stone harbour feature bedded into the clay of the river bank. The steps of the harbour enabled boats to offload their cargo at varying water levels. Interestingly the water level during the harbour’s use must have been higher than mean levels today, so the project has therefore not just enhanced our understanding of the wider medieval archaeology at Cambuskenneth but has also provided evidence of mean water level change at Stirling since the medieval period.