THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL dig at Scone Palace in Perth has unearthed the bottom half of a skeleton.

Painstaking work is being continued to dig up what else remains of the skeleton.

Large parts of the ancient abbey have been found.

MASS (Moot Hill and Abbey Survey Scone) Project co-director Peter Yeoman said, “One of the most important things we have found so far is the outline of the abbey church and cloister.

“We have used ground- penetrating radar to produce an amazing outline of the abbey in the north transept trench.

“Individual pieces of buttresses and columns have been picked up on a plan, and we have tested it this year with limited excavations.

“Before the abbey was created, there was an older church on site.”

The dig is taking place on the lawn between the palace entrance and the graveyard, and so far three trenches have been dug up, with another two planned.

It is hoped to reveal elements of the structure of the Augustinian church.

Mr Yeoman added, “We’re also looking for a large ditch that is now buried and invisible, which ran around the back of the Moot Hill.

“Royal and law-making assemblies would have taken place here amongst the nobility from the 10th century at least.

“The ditch would have defined the separate space where activities of the highest importance to the kingdom were taking place.”

Mr Yeoman is joined on the dig by Oliver O’Grady and a team of professional archaeologists, some from Glasgow University, along with six local volunteers.

Visitors to the palace and grounds can watch the team at work and find out more about the excavations on free tours led by one of the archaeologists daily at 2pm until Saturday.

To guarantee a place on the tour, call Pamela Lawrence on 01738 552300. Places can be booked on arrival subject to availability.

There is a grounds entrance fee of £4.50 for adults, £3 for children, and £4 for concessions.