The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Remains of Scots prisoners found
RESEARCH: Bones will not be returned north, say experts
The remains of Scottish prisoners of war who died after being captured by Oliver Cromwell’s troops nearly 400 years ago will not be reburied north of the border, archaeologists have announced.
Between 17 and 28 skeletons discovered in a mass grave close to Durham Cathedral in 2013 were found to be the bones of prisoners from the brutal 1650 Battle of Dunbar, some 111 miles north.
Following widespread consultation over what should happen to the bones, including the suggestion of them being returned to Scotland, Durham University has said they will be buried in a nearby churchyard.
A plaque featuring stone from Dunbar will be erected at the original grave site, and further research will be carried out on the remains before they are reburied.
The remains of the soldiers were found in a mass grave during construction work on the university’s Palace Green Library cafe.
None of the skeletons exhumed is complete as, in keeping with archaeological best practice, only those remains directly affected by the construction work were exhumed.
Research showed they were the remains of Scottish soldiers from the Battle of Dunbar, answering an almost 400-year-old mystery as to where those soldiers who died had been buried.
As an estimated 1,700 prisoners from the battle died and were buried in Durham, it was thought possible that there are more mass graves under buildings close to the cathedral.
Canon Rosalind Brown, of Durham Cathedral, said: “The hope of Durham Cathedral and Durham University is that interested parties will join us in planning a fitting and dignified reburial and commemoration for the soldiers.
“We will also be working closely with both the local church and churches in Scotland to plan this.”