HgS

Many months ago, when we were digging the site at Old College Quad, Jem came across some glassware and a quantity of bright vermilion powder. I suspected that it was cinnabar, mercury sulphide, and that area of the excavation (the basement of a building that had been the university chemistry department in the 18th century) was covered up and left untouched.
Until now,
Despite having told the University about the finds, and mentioning it in several talks and meetings, it is only now, 10 or so months later and after the area had been prepared for laying a stone slab pavement, that a decision was made that this unique relic of the Scottish Enlightenment should be fully excavated.
Ross and Kenny are so delighted to be digging into deposits containing traces of mercury, arsenic, lead and who-knows-what-else!
Unfortunately, this extension of the digging (fascinating though it might prove to be) does mean that there is a delay on funding for the next phase of post-ex....