Sixteenth century cannonball found at Acheson House in Edinburgh

Archaeologists working at Acheson House at Edinburgh's Canongate have discovered a sixteenth-century cannonball, the only one of this period to have been found in the city.

Archaeologists working on a dig at Acheson House on Canongate in Edinburgh have discovered a sixteenth-century cannonball, the only one of this period to have been recovered in the city. The dig is being carried out as part of a rescue package agreed with Edinburgh City Council, which will see Acheson House, built in 1633, restored for use as Edinburgh World Heritage offices.

City archaeologist John Lawson told The Scotsman newspaper: 'The cannonball is quite exciting because we know it was of the type used in the 16th century, but it is the first that has been recovered in the city itself. There were some pretty big sieges of Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile in the 16th century. There was also the Lang Siege of Edinburgh Castle, which ended in 1573, so it could have been fired during that as well, but we know this area would have been under siege at some point in the 16th century.'

(Image copyright Kim Traynor, Creative Commons)