ARCHAEOLOGISTS WILL be out in force at Scone Palace to uncover the seat of medieval Scottish kings.

The dig will take place next Monday when it is hoped the excavations will lead to the abbey of Scone and Moot Hill being found.

In ancient times, Scone was an important centre of royal and ecclesiastical power.

The royal centre and monastery at Scone was where the kings of Scotland, including MacBeth and Robert the Bruce, were crowned from the ninth century.

The MASS Project (Moot Hill and Abbey Survey Scone) aims to find out more about the origins and development of Scone, and is being led by Peter Yeoman and Oliver O’Grady. They will be accompanied by a team of professional archaeologists, some from Glasgow University, along with six local volunteers.

Over more than 1000 years Scone developed from an early medieval royal settlement, into a great Augustinian abbey in the 12th century, before the palace was created around 1600.

Mr Yeoman said he is looking forward to some exciting discoveries.

“In 2007 a geophysical remote sensing survey was undertaken to investigate the Moot Hill and to find the lost abbey,” he said. “Evidence was found of a large buried ditch which ran around the base of the Moot Hill, and a remarkably complete outline of the abbey church and cloister was revealed.”

He continued, “Further geophysical surveys have just been carried out, with more work being done on the abbey site to the east and south of the palace. We’ve also extended this into parts of the surrounding area, in order to gain a better understanding of the rich early medieval landscape which existed around Scone at this time.

“So far, the geophysics has been going very well this year, with indications of new significant findings already emerging.”

A trench will be dug across the base of the Moot Hill to investigate the possible ditch, while another small trench will be dug on the summit to the south of the mausoleum. This trench is intended to reveal something of the 17th century parish church.

And five trenches will be dug in the lawn at the abbey between the palace entrance and the graveyard. It is hoped to reveal elements of the structure of the Augustinian church as well as something of its junction, where the cloister would have stood down the slope to the south.

Mr Yeoman added, “It is anticipated that the dig will bring to life one of the key centres of power, politics and kingship in medieval Scotland and help shed light on the creation and use of the Moot Hill for assemblies, the appearance of the early medieval monastery, the development of the 12th century abbey and the development of the palace from the abbey buildings.”

Visitors to the palace and grounds will be able to see the archaeologists at work and find out more about the excavations, during free tours led by one of the archaeologists, from today until July 26 at 2pm.

A grounds entrance fee is payable (adults £4.50, children £3 and £4 for concessions).

To guarantee a place on a tour phone Pamela Lawrence on 01738 552300.

Places may also be booked on arrival, subject to availability.