The dark end of ‘Solomon’ the Pict revealed
Five brutal blows to the head by a sword or axe killed ‘Solomon’ who was buried around 1,500 years ago in Fife, writes Alison Campsie
The cause of death of a Pictish man who lived in a Fife coastal community around 1,500 years ago has been revealed following analysis of his badly damaged skull.
The man, nicknamed Solomon by archaeologists, was killed by five hard blows to the head that were likely delivered from above by a heavy sharp bladed instrument, such as a sword or axe.
His is likely to have been hit from above, with his attacker possibly striking from horseback.
Solomon tried to evade his attacker, moving between the first and second strike, but he did not survive the violent encounter which took place sometime between 500 and 700AD.
The man, who was probably in his late thirties or early forties when he died, was buried in an elaborate grave on Lundin Links near Lower Largo, with the style of burial suggesting he was respected within the community.
Research carried out by the Mcmanus Art Gallery and Museum in Dundee, Edinburgh University and Aberdeen University is now building a fascinating picture into the life and time of the Pict.
Christina Donald, curator of early history at the Mcmanus, said: “Our man wasn’t an enemy or a criminal. He was someone thought well enough of to be given a respectful burial. He wasn’t just left where he fell.
“At the time that he died, it was too late for the Romans and too early for the Vikings. He may have been a victim of Pict-on-pict violence.”
Solomon, who was given the name by those who excavated him, was one of around 20 people buried in the cemetery at Lundin Links which was exposed during a storm in the 1960s.
There is much evidence of Pictish settlement throughout Fife, which is widely-held to have been once known as the Pictish kingdom of Fib.
The largest hoard of early Pictish silver discovered in Scotland was found at Balman Farm near Upper Largo – just over three miles from the burial site – with the treasures dating from 7th Century.
Solomon was laid to rest in a ‘double disc’ burial cairn – known as the Dumbbell Complex – which is made up of two circular tombs connected by a rectangular structure. He was found in one of the end cairns with a woman buried in the middle enclosure.
Analysis of his skull has show that Solomon – described as an ‘impressive’ figure’ – was around 5ft 10ins tall with a long face, a flaring jaw and a cleft in the chin.
He was also suffering from a range of chronic health problems at the time of his death, Ms Donald said.
A chronic sinus infection, dental abscesses, arthritis of the spine and a slipped disc were all detected.
Dr Kate Britton of the University of Aberdeen has been involved in analysis of Solomon – also known by his catalogue number LL3 – who is undertaking a project on Pictish diet that will help determine how people moved around during the period.
So far, it has been established that Solomon lived on a meat and plantbased diet and did not eat fish, despite living so close to the sea.
Ms Donald said: “That does fit the pattern of Picts that have been tested – significant marine-based consumption does not show up again until the Vikings.
“The samples are small, so it is difficult to say for certain what is going on. But my personal – and completely untested theory – is that their wealth wasinthelandandcattlesoitwasperhaps a mark of prestige to eat beef.”
Dr Elena Kranioti of the University of Edinburgh’s Unit for Forensic Anthropology, a specialist in skeletal trauma and Laura-kate Girdwood, a PHD student at the university, have been involved in Solomon’s case.
Master’s degree student Kristin Walters reconstructed his face in clay after a CT scan was made of his skull.
l Links With The Past, which examines the stories of Solomon and others buried in the Fife coastal graves on Lundin Links near Lower Largo, is now on show at Mcmanus Art Gallery and Museum, Dundee, until Sunday 31 March.