It’s been buried for over 400 years, missing in action deep below Edinburgh Castle’s cobbled wynds.

The sharp eye of Historic Scotland’s archaeologist, Peter Yeoman, has discovered another significant piece of this iconic attraction’s historical jigsaw.

While excavating the area around where a new audio guide kiosk is scheduled to be erected (just inside the Castle’s portcullis gate), Peter and his team unearthed a finely carved stone window jamb reused in a drain. Peter immediately recognised the possibility that this might be the only fragment of the lost medieval Constable’s Tower that has ever been seen.

Peter explains: "I could see straight away that this was a fragment of a very fine glazed window probably of 15th or 16th century date. It must have been lying around as a piece of rubble to end up being built into this later drain. Putting two-and-two together, I realised that the only building it might have come from in this vicinity was the lost Constable’s Tower.

Such a large window, at least five feet high, might have graced the Constable’s private apartments, from which he could have looked out, observing the coming and goings of the royal court in the nearby royal palace buildings. More warlike, smaller windows would have looked out to the town below."

The Constable was the keeper of the castle for the king - a powerful and highly sought after position. The Constable’s Tower at Edinburgh Castle was built during the reign of Robert II (1371-90) as a new inner gate tower and was provided with a drawbridge in 1383. The Tower is recorded in drawings of the Castle which show little detail other than a large circular tower. It was destroyed in 1573 at the end of the ‘lang siege’ when a devastating fire brought the frontal defences (and the tower) crashing down.

Another important discovery made during the dig was the handle of a finely decorated bone knife which probably belonged to an 18th century red coat. The two week dig is now completed, although further analysis of the window and other discoveries is still underway.

The new audio guide kiosk forms part of a wider programme of improvements to ticketing and visitor reception at Edinburgh Castle, including the construction of a new ticket office which is currently underway. The new facilities are on track to open in 2008.

Barbara Smith, Executive Manager of Edinburgh Castle said: "Thanks to our archaeologist's nimble eye, another significant piece of Edinburgh Castle's complex history has been found and we are absolutely thrilled. Each discovery gives us a fascinating glimpse into the past, helping us to understand more fully the castle's role through the ages. It is an exciting find, proving that we are not even close to realising the full extent of buried treasure at Edinburgh Castle."

• Edinburgh Castle is open 7 days a week from 9.30am - 6.00pm (Apr-Sept). Admission: Adult £11.00, Child £5.50, Concession £9.00.
  
  
• A majestic landmark which dominates the capital city's skyline just as it has dominated Scotland's long and colourful history Edinburgh Castle is the best known and most visited of our historic buildings. Perched on an extinct volcano and offering stunning views, this instantly recognisable fortress is a powerful national symbol and part of Edinburgh's World Heritage site.
  
  
• This ‘lang siege’ at Edinburgh Castle was a result of Mary Queen of Scot’s abdication in 1567, when the nobility of Scotland broke into two camps, one supporting Mary, and the second loyal to the infant James VI (born 1566). The Castle was besieged from 1571 by the Regent James Douglas, earl of Morton, ruling on behalf James. The Castle garrison, loyal to Mary’s cause, was ably led by Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange. He had the best of Scotland’s artillery inside the Castle, and so the siege proved inconclusive until Queen Elizabeth of England sent her siege train by ship to Leith, landing in April 1573. Six batteries were set up around all sides of the Castle, including two on what is now Princes Street. Within ten days the devastating fire had brought the frontal defences crashing down including the Constable’s Tower. The valiant Sir William was executed at the mercat cross and his head impaled on the ruined castle walls. What little was left of the Constable’s Tower was demolished and quickly replaced by the portcullis gate which exists to this day.
  
  
• The stone features a star-shaped mason’s mark cut into an inside face of the stone, so it was not meant to be seen when the stone was built-into the window. Mason’s marks were individual to each mason and were a means by which they could keep track of (and be paid for) each stone which they cut. Alex McKay, Works Manager at Edinburgh Castle believes he has seen the same mark elsewhere in the Castle, so experts will be keeping an eye out for this mason and his mark in the future.
  
  
• Historic Scotland is investing £2.7 million in the Edinburgh Castle Visitor Reception Project with an aim to cut queues and give visitors a warmer welcome when they arrive at Edinburgh Castle. The project will halve the time taken to queue for tickets and transform the visitors’ view of the castle by removing the current ticket office from the esplanade. The project includes:
  • a new terrace and gathering area offering spectacular city views
  • a new ticket office on the terrace
  • online booking and information on events via a new Edinburgh Castle website
  • a sophisticated and swift new onsite electronic ticketing system.
  
  
• The aim is to have the new ticketing area up and running for the start of the 2008 visitor season.