Something went wrong - please try again later.

Thank you for signing up to The Courier daily newsletter

Sign up for our daily newsletter of the top stories in Courier country

Archaeologists have unearthed significant medieval finds on the site of the St Andrews University Museum.

The discoveries were made during excavations carried out as part of a major project to redevelop the museum on The Scores.

They include around 1,000 pieces of medieval pottery, animal bones and shells dating from between the 12th and 15th centuries.

Fife Council archaeologist Douglas Speirs said the finds offered an important insight into medieval St Andrews.

It is thought the excavation site may involve the remains of a small sandstone quarry, infilled with material to restore it for agricultural purposes, or a medieval rubbish pit.

The museum project sponsor Dr Katie Stevenson, assistant vice-principal collections and digital content, and co-editor of the 2017 book Medieval St Andrews: Church, Cult, City, hailed the discovery.

“It was extraordinary to witness parts of the hitherto completely unknown history of medieval St Andrews being uncovered before us, on a part of the Scores we know very little about during this period,” she said.

“We are delighted.”

St Andrews University Museums are undergoing a period of development.

The museum is currently closed to allow for the construction of an extension that will create significant new temporary exhibition space and a larger reception and retail area.

The four permanent galleries are also being redeveloped to showcase the scope and quality of the university’s collections and highlight its world-leading research history.

The museum will reopen in 2020.