The Kilwinning dig breaks ground

An innovative community project that is breaking new ground every day – literally – is underway for a second season.

Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and the Heritage Lottery Fund provide the backing for the Kilwinning Community Archaeology Project, better known as the Kilwinning Dig.

The team, who began digging in the middle of August,  are exposing and recording buried medieval structures that were originally found in 1960s clearance work at historic Kilwinning Abbey, but very poorly recorded at that time.

Four more weeks of excavation are ahead of the team, but already a range of medieval and post-medieval finds have been recovered – including fragments of slate incised with gaming boards from the Chapter House. A trench in the centre of the Cloister has also located a range of small structures that may date from the early 16th century as the monks divided up this area.

These discoveries build on the success of last year’s work which: located timber structures that are earlier than the stone built 12th century cloisters; found the real remains of the south range - the eating hall; and showed how the nave of the Abbey Church was changed into the first reformed church in the late 16th century. A range of medieval finds were also recovered that will help reconstruct the lives of the monks at Kilwinning; these included shards of pottery - some of which were imports from as far afield as Germany and Spain
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Some twenty volunteers work on-site from Wednesday to Saturday each week supported by professional archaeologists from Rathmell Archaeology. While most volunteers are from the local community some are from further afield. This week an Australian couple touring Scotland for their first wedding anniversary joined the team to learn more about archaeology and Kilwinning.

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay, said: “We work to create a bright new future for the Irvine Bay area, but in doing that we always have an eye on all that is valuable from the past. Regeneration is about more than bricks and mortar, and the project enables the community to investigate the past of their burgh through archaeology, and to appreciate this fantastic area.”

Throughout the excavations the public are welcome to visit, explore the Abbey, discover the past of Kilwinning in the Heritage Centre and climb the tower for a stunning view of the town and Ayrshire. You can also follow the Project and ask questions of the team on the dedicated Facebook page.