OS1/11/105/229

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 229
[continued from page 228]

There is a very interesting fact connected with the wall W. It stands upon travelled earth reaching [from]
M, the level of the Cowgate to d the stiff natural clay called diluvial on the supposition that it was deposited by [---]
This mass of earth exhibits traces of beds not inclined liKe those at T, but horizontal and its thickness varies [at dif-]
ferent parts of the foundation from 10 to 14 feet. Three or four feet of this under M consist of rubbish [com-]
mon mould and the rest of a black mossy earth. About three four below the foundation of the wall W [---]
stratum of human bones B was found in the blacK earth; they were generally in entire SKeletons though not [---]
-feet and with the head to the west but some were detached broken and scattered. Some of them were [---]
-lely decayed but many of them very sound owing probably to the Consertive qualities of the mossy so [soil]
The foundations of the older wall w were not seen but it is most probable that they would extend down to
Stiff dileuvial clay d d d, which coats the natural surface of the rock r r,
About one foot under the pavement of the Parliament Square P were found other bones b belonging to a [---]
recent period when this Square was the burying ground attached to the Cathedral. They were in pretty good [---]
and in SKeletons with the head to the west but some of them disturbed
Some curious inferences are deducible from the appearance of the soil under wall W, First at a very [---]
period the ground had consisted of a bog or marsh, which probably served the purpose of a ditch in [---]
the advance of assailants to the older wall w. which we may suppose then formed the defence of the town [---]
Side. At the foundation of the new bridge about 100 yards to the west along with similar black soil some [---]
found, another proof of the existence of stagnant water in this situation. Secondly from draining or the gradual [ac-]
-cumulation of earth the ground had become dry enough in course of time to serve as a burying ground. There [ ]
the burying ground at a late period had been covered with many feet of earth and rubbish thrown [---]
the town probably in the process of building and levelling the surface and this had become solid enough to support [---]
city wall about 1450. From the veneration felt for churchyards it is likely that many years elapsed before the [rubbish]
was deposited upon the graves, and many more must have even before it was so firm as to preclude, the necessity [---]
digging deeper in founding a massive wall which was probably 30 feet in height and the strength and solidity
which was of so much importance. We may therefore conclude that the bodies found here were interred not [ ]
than about the year 1300 and perhaps a century or even two centuries earlier. Half a dozen of Skulls taKen [from]

[continued on page 230]

Transcriber's notes

Words lost in fold

This Name Book refers to Edinburgh 1852 - Sheet 35
OS large scale Scottish town plans, 1847-1895 - Scale: 1:1056