Eldbotle; the archaeology and environmental history of a medieval rural settlement in East Lothian

Abstract

Excavations on the Archerfield Estate, East Lothian, have uncovered evidence, in the form of buildings and enclosures, for the lost village of Eldbotle, a settlement which was in use from the 5th century AD to the 18th century, but at its peak during the 13th and 14th centuries. Excavated rural settlements of this date are rare in Scotland so this has been used as an opportunity to explore the impact of national political and environmental events, and their social and economic repercussions, on the development and evolution of a small agricultural community like Eldbotle. Thus, by weaving multiple strands of evidence together, the settlement at Eldbotle has been brought to life, despite the limited nature of the archaeological record.