Work has begun to delve into Glasgow’s past – to uncover how its communities and industries have changed over the years along the route of forthcoming M74 Completion project.
A specialist team of archaeologists from HAPCA, a joint venture comprising Headland Archaeology Ltd and Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd, have begun excavation work along the route of the 5 mile "missing link" in Scotland’s motorway network.
With work just started archaeologists working at Pollokshaws Road, on the site of some of the area’s earliest tenement buildings, have already unearthed some promising finds such as stove tiles and pennies which date back to early-Victorian times.
Sites to be explored include a former iron foundry and associated workers' housing, a former mill complex, the former Glasgow-Paisley-Ardrossan Canal and a late 19th Century industrial pottery factory.
Artefacts uncovered from these excavations will help experts to build a picture of what life was like for the residents of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire many years ago.
A Discovery Centre will be opened to exhibit finds unearthed during the excavations and to provide community groups and members of the public with an opportunity to learn more about the area’s heritage. The Centre will host a number of exciting events and activities such as simulated digs, exhibitions, talks and education projects.
Dr Carol Swanson, Service Manager for the West of Scotland Archaeology Service who is supervising the work on behalf of the M74 project partners said:
"We are looking forward to seeing this innovative archaeological project combine traditional archaeological methods with the memories of those who can still recall working and living in the shadow of the city’s industries. We hope that through this two-way process, we can learn more about the lives the people who helped make Glasgow the great city it is."
Graham Edmond, M74 Project Manager with Transport Scotland said:
"This is a unique and exciting opportunity to unearth some of the history of Glasgow and its surrounding areas and is an added benefit to the many that the M74 will bring to the West of Scotland.
"We have assembled a dedicated and enthusiastic team to carry out the investigation work and to share what is found and I would encourage everyone to visit the Discovery Centre to learn about our past."
The archaeological process will involve trial trenching to assess archaeological survival, followed by open area excavation and post excavation analysis and publication.
The investigation work under the £4.9m archaeological contract, one of the largest archaeological contracts undertaken in the UK, is scheduled for completion in April 2008.
For more information see M74 Completion
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