WAGGONWAY DIG INFO

Great news! East Lothian's Archaeology Fortnight is on the horizon and are picking up our trowels again during the first week in September to answer further questions about Scotland’s earliest railway.

What is the wider state of preservation of the waggonway? Are there more wet or mineralised wooden rails? Could further remains of the iron railway be found? And above all, can we learn more about construction methods for early wooden railways from what we know is a unique and remarkably well-preserved site?

The dig will be on all week, and on the Friday and Saturday we’re inviting members of the public to come along to help out with finds, test pits and other essential archaeological tasks. There will also be our usual living history activities to get involved in at our museum.

Dig Dates - 2nd September – 7th September

·        During the week 2nd – 4th Sept, visitors are welcome to visit/view the dig site as the trench is opened and archaeologists work to evaluate the archaeology.

·        Public Participation Fri 5th Sept and Sat 6th Sept (10am – 3pm)

·        Museum at Cockenzie open 11am – 4pm Fri & Sat

·        Saturday evening – post dig Tap-room night 6pm onwards with local beers at the Waggonway Museum (all welcome - adults only)

·        Drop-in site Tours Sun 7th Sept (1pm, 2pm, 3pm)

Dig Site Location – 1722 Waggonway Path / Route between Cockenzie and Meadowmill.

Museum Location – West Harbour Rd Cockenzie EH32 0HX

• it's best to visit the museum first, and you can get all the info about the dig site before you visit

We do not have public bookable dig spaces on this dig, instead you can drop-in to help on the Friday & Saturday, as we'll have plenty of tasks for you to help with.

• Drop-in archaeology tasks – we will manage access to participation activities to ensure visitors have a great experience, but if it's really busy access to certain activities may be limited

• This event is mainly suitable for adults, but children aged 7+ will be able to take part if accompanied by their adult (archaeological activities are hard work and children may get tired quickly)

Parking & Public Transport

• Parking is limited and if you are driving, please park considerately

• Please avoid driving directly to the dig site

• If you can, take the bus - the No.26 takes you all the way to Cockenzie!

Access

• Most tasks and locations are easily accessible for all

• Dig site accessible by bridleway path / some areas may be slightly rough

• Museum accessible by ramped access, but non-accessible WC

• Accessible WC available at nearby Cockenzie House & Gardens

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us via info@1722waggonway.co.uk

Thanks to Dig It Scotland / Shahbaz Majeed for photos and Peter Savee for artwork.