When Sir John Maxwell was granted the Caerlaverock estate in around 1220, he began to build a castle here. It seems that within fifty years this first castle had been abandoned, and the castle that you see today was built on an outcrop of rock. Before last year's dig, all that was visible of the old castle was a grassy earthen mound, surrounded by a moat. In 1998 the archaeologists uncovered a series of buildings on the castle mound, enclosed by a curtain wall with corner towers. A harbour to the south-west of the old castle, once linked to the Solway Firth, was also briefly investigated.
Archaeology is the study of people in the past through the material remains they leave behind.
As well as uncovering the remains of the castle buildings, the archaeologists found fragments of pottery, metal, glass and stone objects, and animal bone representing the remains of meals eaten by the castle's inhabitants. Organic materials may have been particularly well preserved in the castle's moat, a small section of which will be excavated this summer. All this will provide a snapshot of life at the castle in the 13th century and reveal information about how the castle was built, its economy and trading links, and the activities of the people living there. Standing wall footings and other structural features will be consolidated so that they can be displayed and interpreted to visitors. We have special interests in the development of medieval Scotland and employ a team of experienced archaeologists and post-excavation specialists.