A GROUP of students from Forth Valley College have formed part of a team that uncovered a brand new section of Stirling’s City Walls.

The team, with many of its members taking part in the Digging Stirling evening course at the city’s Forth Valley campus, carried out the dig on the weekend of October 7 and 8.

During the dig, the group put their skills to the test, carrying out the first ever archaeological dig on the Stirling City Walls.

They were led on their expedition by Stirling Council’s archaeologist Murray Cook, who spoke of his delight at being granted permission to carry out the dig.

He said: “A ‘brand new’ section of Scotland’s best preserved city wall was uncovered by students from Forth Valley College and myself, but the rain hindered what we could do.

“The wall was built around 1547/8 to deter English troops sent to force the infant Mary Queen of Scots to marry the young Prince Edward: Henry VII’s sole male heir, known as The Rough Wooing.

“The wall had been undermined by later graves dug into the bedrock at its foundation.

“We now hope to return in the spring and carry on the hunt, looking for a bastion last used in Stirling Castle’s final siege by Jacobites, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie in January 1746.”

The college’s Stirling campus now has 13 places available for the Digging Stirling – An Introduction to Archaeology & History of Stirling course.

More information found via the college website.