"Within the gallery itself, 52 skeletons were found, as well as coins, coffin fixtures and fittings, coffin wood, textiles, ceramics, stone artefacts, bricks, tiles and quantities of animal bone and shell.
"As discovered and recorded, all the skeletons and other finds have been taken off-site to the archaeology company's store. They are being cleaned and sorted first, and then appropriate tests, including DNA, will be undertaken to determine the approximate date of the finds. A post-research report on the excavations will also be written.
"As a consequence of the finds construction work has been delayed by six weeks however it is not a critical time delay. The contractor has indicated his intention to still complete on time, however we are now reviewing our timelines in case he is unable to. There is also a period of time between completion of construction to enable air handling systems to stabilise, and fit out the exhibitions prior to the planned date for opening in late 2017.
"The Roman Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen has indicated his wish to arrange the reinternment of the body found last year at the corner of the Art Gallery, just outside the gateway to Robert Gordon College's quadrangle. These remains were discovered when the Robert Gordon University engaged SSE to lay a new electric cable. It is expected that he will also wish to arrange a similar burial for the bodies found here."
"We believe that this find contributes considerably to the knowledge we have of the medieval centre of the city, and we will look to using this in telling more of the story of the site when we re-open the Art Gallery, and will also use it in other ways. We will also apply to have the material finds returned to the city once they have been analysed. There is a government process to determine where finds are located."
Martin Cook, AOC project manager, said: "We are hugely excited to be working on such an exciting project which will provide so much information on Medieval Aberdeen.
"Articulated skeletal remains of more than 50 individuals have also been recovered from formal graves. There is clear intercutting of graves, though each individual grave appears to contain a single inhumation.
"Further disarticulated remains including fragments of skull have been recovered from the deposits associated with the formal burials.
"In addition to the skeletal remains a large artefact assemblage has been recovered associated with both the charnel and the formal burials.
"The artefacts comprise metal objects including significant quantities of coins, coffin fixtures and fittings, organic finds including coffin wood and textiles, ceramics, stone artefacts, bricks, tiles and quantities of animal bone and shell."
Bruce Mann, archaeologist for Aberdeenshire Council, who is contracted to work for the City Council on this project, said: "We expected to find some remains underneath the Art Gallery, but the 19thcentury building works actually left more burials intact than we ever imagined. This now presents a fantastic window into medieval life in Aberdeen."
Jason Finch, curator of archaeology and maritime history, for Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums, said: "The finds are an exciting mix that adds to the story of Medieval Aberdeen and everyday life in it. By examining the burials, we can learn about the lives people led and the injuries they suffered.