A TUNEFUL discovery has been exciting archaeologists in Perth as just part of a find-filled year at digs around the town.

The experts from the locally-based Scottish Urban Archaeology Trust, working with Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, are now custodians of Perth’s earliest-known musical instrument.

The small flute, believed to be made of a shin bone and to date from medieval times, was found during the excavation of the site of Gillies of Broughty Ferry’s planned store at Skinnergate.

The ongoing redevelopment of the former site of the Lemon Tree restaurant has allowed a rare opportunity for controlled excavation of Perth’s earliest streets, according to heritage trust archaeologist David Strachan.

Also found were two soapstone brooch moulds, plus a fascinating insight into the building practices of days gone by.

During a hand excavation of a new lift shaft, the experts found up to 14 floor levels from medieval houses on top of each other.

The sequence started directly below the demolished building, and from initial analysis of the pottery it would appear there is little more than 100 years between the earliest and latest floor levels.