Archaeological dig uncovers artefacts

Scientific equipment belonging to an Enlightenment figure has been found in an archaeological dig at the University. The eighteenth-century items, including laboratory apparatus and brightly coloured chemicals, almost certainly were the property of Joseph Black. Black was Professor of Chemistry at Edinburgh and is best known for his discovery of carbon dioxide gas. Laboratory equipment. Included in the finds are samples of mercury, arsenic and cobalt. These were discovered together with glass tubes and other vessels, bottle stoppers, thermometers and storage jars. Also uncovered were ceramic distillation apparatus made by Josiah Wedgwood.