Dunwell, A. J., Cressey, M., Cameron, K., Strachan, R., Suddaby, I., Rees, A. Roy. and Mitchell, S. (2010). Excavations on the Route of the Dalkeith Northern Bypass, 1994-95 and 2006. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. https://doi.org/10.5284/1017938.

An evaluation and subsequent targeted excavations were carried out along the route of the proposed A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass by the Centre for Field Archaeology (CFA) between September 1994 and March 1995, with additional watching briefs taking place in 1997. The work was commissioned by Historic Scotland on behalf of the Roads Directorate of the Scottish Office Industry Department. The bypass was not constructed at the time, and further pre-construction mitigation work was recommended in 2005, with fieldwork being carried out in 2006-08 by CFA Archaeology Ltd, for Historic Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland. This report describes the results of the evaluations and each excavation individually. The route traverses a narrow strip of the Lothian plain which contained several prehistoric sites (two ring-groove structures, a stone-paved area and two pit alignments), a Roman temporary camp, a post-medieval building, an 18th-century designed landscape, and two industrial sites (a brick and tile works and a coal pit engine house). Several sites also produced ephemeral remains of earlier or later date. Overall, the results indicated a settlement pattern and land use which concentrated on the sands and gravels of the river terraces, with far less settlement on the unforgiving compacted clays which otherwise characterise large parts of the road corridor.

Evaluation in 1994 located two previously unknown sites (two ring-groove structures with associated negative features and an enigmatic area of rough paving) and confirmed the existence of a third thought to have been destroyed (remains of the engine house associated with Fuffet coal pit). In addition, numerous field drains were revealed. Further evaluation in 2005 and 2006 added little to the original results. Full details are held in the RCAHMS archive.

This chapter presents a detailed archaeological description of two ring-groove structures and a group of intercutting pits. Associated artefacts include a small assemblage of lithics, one sherd of prehistoric pottery and a whetstone. This type of structure is though to have a long life span commencing in the first quarter of the second millennium BC.

A small group of features, two of which were definitely prehistoric in date are described and discussed. Associated artefacts included a small assemblage of Neolithic lithics, prehistoric pottery, a boulder quern and two cobble tools. A small single-storey building of 18th century construction with two phases is thought to have been a worker's cottage of uncertain function. Several pits and postholes of comparable date were also excavated. There are specialist reports on pottery, ceramic building material, clay pipes, glass, gunflint, gunstone, metalwork and animal bone.

This chapter is concerned with the boundaries of Dalkeith Park formerly the formal gardens and grounds of the 18th-century Dalkeith House. Survey methodology and results are considered. Within the sections of wall examined by evaluation it was clear that there was uniformity in its design.

An evaluation and subsequent targeted excavations were carried out along the route of the proposed A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass by the Centre for Field Archaeology (CFA) between September 1994 and March 1995, with additional watching briefs taking place in 1997. The work was commissioned by Historic Scotland on behalf of the Roads Directorate of the Scottish Office Industry Department. The bypass was not constructed at the time, and further pre-construction mitigation work was recommended in 2005, with fieldwork being carried out in 2006-08 by CFA Archaeology Ltd, for Historic Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland. This report describes the results of the evaluations and each excavation individually. The route traverses a narrow strip of the Lothian plain which contained several prehistoric sites (two ring-groove structures, a stone-paved area and two pit alignments), a Roman temporary camp, a post-medieval building, an 18th-century designed landscape, and two industrial sites (a brick and tile works and a coal pit engine house). Several sites also produced ephemeral remains of earlier or later date. Overall, the results indicated a settlement pattern and land use which concentrated on the sands and gravels of the river terraces, with far less settlement on the unforgiving compacted clays which otherwise characterise large parts of the road corridor.