Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a WWII camp as well as an even older military camp, which may have been held by Oliver Cromwell, at the site of a new water treatment plant in Scotland.

The Second World War camp was uncovered in a field on the route of Scottish Water’s new Glencorse pipeline, off Frogston Road, and is thought to have been founded in the wake of the Allies’ defeat at Dunkirk in 1940.

CFA Archaeology staff have also discovered musket balls that may be evidence of a camp set up by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century, and hope to find artefacts dating back even further.

Project manager Bruce Glendinning said: “There are historical references to Roman artefacts being found on the site in 19th century but we are yet to find any of these ourselves.

“The area we’re excavating stretches all the way from Penicuik to Glencorse so if it’s there we’ll find it.

“There are also some written reports of Oliver Cromwell staying with a local landowner nearby, and we have uncovered musket balls which could possibly date from that era.”

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Artisans are helping a research project determine whether the eye sockets of some ancient carvings were filled with glass.

Fearn sculptor Barry Grove and Tain glass artist Brodie Nairn are working with the National Museum of Scotland and Aberlady Heritage in a project to see if empty eye sockets in historic carvings could have been filled with a form of glass eye. And Mr Grove is attempting to re-create a 14ft Pictish carved stone, working with a 2ft fragment of the original found at Aberlady, East Lothian.

He said: “From research it is thought the original was about 14ft high and there have been many discussions with academics to ensure it is as accurate as it can be.”

Once completed the piece will be on display at Aberlady.

Mr Nairn said it was an exciting project. He said: “We are applying the old traditional skills with new technologies to see how things were done in the past.

“Some of these skills have been lost in time.”

Alice Blackwell, a research officer from the National Museum of Scotland, who has been for three years working with the Glenmorangie Partnership which is exploring the area around Tain, said: “We are exploring the archaeology of the area from 300AD to 900AD, from the Romans to the Vikings.

“We find many pieces with drilled eye holes but haven’t ever found anything in them. It has been exciting experimenting with different colours and finishes of glass.”

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Evidence has been found of Africans being present at Stirling Castle as early as the 1540s.

John Harrison found references to morys – or moors – in the “Bread Book”, a record of who received loaves from the royal kitchens in 1549.

The book may be the first clear record of Africans at Stirling Castle’s Royal Palace, Mr Harrison said.

The research is part of Historic Scotland’s £12m restoration of the palace to its mid-16th Century heyday.

The Bread Book dates from when the palace was the main residence of Scotland’s queen mother, and future regent, Mary de Guise, the mother of Mary Queen of Scots.

Mr Harrison believes the “morys” were probably either black Africans or Arabs originating from north Africa.

He said the book provided a “fascinating glimpse” into the diversity of the royal court at Stirling.

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An ancient stone arrowhead has been found in the garden of a ruined schoolhouse in Scotland.

Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (Guard) said it may have been dropped by a hunter.

It added that it may have arrived from elsewhere and then been lost by a local collector or a teacher at the former parish school in Durness.

The 3cm relic was made from a sedimentary rock called black chert.

In a report by Guard made available on Highland Council’s Highland Historic Environment Record, archaeologists said the find had “cast an unexpected light” on the area’s prehistoric times.

The spot on rocky ground between two lochs was a perfect place to stalk game, they said.

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Medieval walls, and the foundations of a military spur, which formed part of the outer defenses at Edinburgh Castle have been unearthed.

The defences, which date from at least the 16th Century, were discovered by archaeologists during foundation works for new Military Tattoo stands.

Service trenches were opened which revealed two structures about 2m beneath the esplanade.

Archaeologists will record the remains before they are reburied.

The first trench, which was discovered earlier this week by experts from CFA Archaeology, revealed the remains of a wall about 2ft wide, which is thought to be part of the north perimeter boundary wall between the city and the castle.

The opening of a second trench uncovered what initially looked like a continuation of the boundary wall, but now appears to be separate remains, similar to the foundations of a spur, a 16th Century defensive bastion which protected the entrance to the castle.

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