Digging Deep

As part of our ongoing Heritage Project, ‘Looking to the past - Linking to the future’ we were joined by Archaeology Scotland for 3 days last week.

Our clients and volunteers had a great time being amateur archaeologist on the shore front, investigating the Timber Ponds and searching for artefacts.

Also funded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Archaeology Scotland’s aim is to engage with groups representing communities who often don’t have the opportunity to experience archaeological practice through traditional forms of public engagement. They offer a programme of engagement activities focused at young people, New Scots and those with additional support needs. 

We had a series of great activities over the 3 days, from drawing the landscape, photographing the project and the timber ponds, listening to the noises the water makes, collecting artefacts from the shore, washing, photographing and recording them. It was great to have the team from Glasgow University here to share their knowledge with us.

We found lots of pottery along the shore line, either from The Clyde Pottery Company, which was on Pottery Street in Greenock from 1816 - 1905, or from one of the Glasgow potters.

Among the treasures the team found an old clay pipe bowl, from approx 1600’s, some very old glass beer bottles and even a tiny blue medicine bottle.

Thanks to the National Lottery players for making this possible through The National Lottery Heritage Fund.