Facial reconstructions of medieval Scots have been put on display 11 years after human remains were discovered during work on Edinburgh's tram project.

The remains of almost 400 men, women and children were found underneath Constitution Street in Leith during 2008.

Following the discovery outside Leith Parish Church, a six-month archaeological excavation was launched in 2009.

After a decade of work, archaeologists and forensic scientists have now revealed what residents of the former burgh looked like 600 years ago.

The exhibition called Past Lives of Leith opened at the Museum of Edinburgh on Friday.

The study, carried out by experts from Headland Archaeology and the City of Edinburgh, was also able to determine how old they were, if they were local and even how they died.

The exhibition showcases the extensive work to bring this historic find to life, through the process of forensic facial reconstruction to depict the faces of the 14th to 17th century remains.

Councillor Donald Wilson, culture and communities convener, said: "Spanning ten years of painstaking archaeological fieldwork and scientific analysis, cutting through seven centuries of Scottish life and times, this exhibition and book explain how the Edinburgh Trams project altered our understanding of the area's history and its inhabitants.

"The work here is a fascinating look at our ancestors, with nearly 400 human remains found.

"The work carried out by our archaeologist, Headland Archaeology and Dundee University has meant we can now get not only an idea of how these medieval residents might have looked, we are also able to determine how old they were, if they were local and even how they died.

"I would encourage anyone with an interest in the history of our capital to pay the exhibition a visit. This is a fascinating insight into a little-known piece of our people's history."

Julie Franklin, from Headland Archaeology, said: "Leith has persevered through sieges, famines, economic hardships and endless plagues.

"Weaving the sometimes harrowing, sometimes surprising story of the town and those who lived and died in it from the many strands of evidence has been a fascinating process."

John Lawson, Edinburgh Council archaeologist, added: "Leith and the surrounding area has a rich archaeological history.

"These excavations have unearthed a cemetery thought to date from the 14th to the 17th centuries. The discoveries of these burials in this location, although always a possibility, was nevertheless a surprise.

"This exhibition and publication of the book is a conclusion to a fascinating project which has truly changed what we thought we knew about the history of Constitution Street and the inhabitants of Leith.

"It has allowed us to highlight the lives of the ordinary person, by putting a face to these individuals and showing how they lived and died. Allowing us to compare and contrast with findings across Scotland and the UK.

"The forensic reconstructions have really helped to identify these remains as those of members of the public, rather than merely deeming them as archaeological findings, and how alike they are to modern day inhabitants of Leith and Edinburgh.

"Additionally, the project allowed us to develop important partnerships with the universities of Dundee and Aberdeen, which led to further areas of collaborative work and research into the former inhabitants of Edinburgh such as the 3D reconstructions on display in our exhibition."

Dr Christopher Rynn, from Dundee University, said: "This project has provided an abundance of MSc projects and graduate internship placements for the MSc Forensic Art over the last few years and it is fantastic to see the work of so many individuals come together.

"Using forensic techniques of facial approximation and reconstruction, in combination with archaeological evidence and artefacts, individuals can be depicted in a way that provides a human, interpersonal element and some context on their lives."