Dig Portobello is an exciting new community archaeology project from Portobello Heritage Trust, supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund. Portobello was once a centre for industry, with a thriving ceramics trade. Help us uncover more about Portobello’s past by excavating a test pit – a small trench no more than 1m x 2m in size – in your garden! Who knows what lurks beneath your lawn?*
We’ll provide you with all the tools and training you’ll need to dig your test pit. The weekend’s activities will be based at The Wash House Community Centre on Adelphi Grove, and this is where we’ll meet each morning. Our roving archaeologists from AOC Archaeology Group, who are providing tools and training and generally overseeing the excavations, will be on hand to make sure you are getting on OK – please register in advance, so we know where to find you!
There’s more to this archaeological extravaganza than just digging, though. Join Portobello Heritage Trust on guided walks around the town; attend workshops on archaeological artefacts and Portobello’s ceramics industry; and for budding young archaeologists, take part in our Wee Pottery Workshops led by one of Porty’s talented potters. It’s entirely up to you which activities you would like to attend – you don’t have to dig to enjoy the rest of the events.
*If you don’t have a garden, are from outside Portobello, or just don’t want to dig up your family football pitch, City of Edinburgh Council has kindly given us permission to excavate on two areas of Council-owned land.
29th-31st August 2014
