Project Aims & Objectives for 2007-2009
The underlying principal objectives of the second phase are the same as for the first phase of the Prestongrange Community Archaeological Project and these are: A) to build on the successes of the first phase of the project by undertaking further archaeological and historical fieldwork; B) to attract new audiences (participatory and non-participatory); C) to provide continued and new project deliverables; and D) to increase the benefits of this project to a wider geographical audience.
This year we aim to develop a series of integrated task-groups that will tackle the large volume of historical information on Prestongrange. This work will be led by Dr Richard Oram of Stirling University. Both he and his colleagues will offer training on synthesising the different types of historical documents, conducting oral historical research and how to interpret the information. A task-group involved in recording reminisces on the working lives of now retired local people will be at the heart of this part of the project.
The underlying ethos of the project has been the fostering of local involvement. It has so far allowed 20 volunteers to gain archaeological skills alongside a research agenda developed to investigate the pre-colliery remains. The results from the Phase 1 programme provided unexpected and exceptional results with the discovery of the upstanding remains of a glass kiln air flue which were some 15m in length, extending eastwards from a WW2 air-raid shelter. The shelter had made use of the remains of the vaulted flue that had survived since the kilns construction probably in the late 17th or early 18th-century. Two assemblages of late 18th century locally made pottery attributed to a very narrow date range are as yet unparalleled anywhere in Scotland. Both the flue and the pottery assemblages are considered to be of National Importance owing to their uniqueness within the Scottish archaeological record.
Drs Mel Johnson and Mike Cressey will be leading the digging team and they aim to re-explore the glass-works site and open up a large area of the suspected remains of a 19th century pottery site. CFA will also be conducting a comprehensive standing building survey of the old Customs House led by members of PCAP.
