Are scientists on the right track identifying the skeleton of the Stirling knight as perhaps being that of Sir John de Strychley?. The theory was put forward by forensic anthropologists from Dundee University in BBC 2’s History Cold Case series which examined the bones that were discovered in a lost royal chapel.
The experts put together all the evidence and suggested that Sir John, a member of the English garrison which to fight of the Scots in the siege of 1341, fitted the bill. However, archaeology tends to be a matter of possible rather than definite answers, so we have been asking for your views.
One member of the public asks if the skeleton might be that of William Wallace’s co-victor at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.
Todd Ferguson, an expat living in Australia, contacted us to say: “Could it be Andrew de Moray? He was mortally wounded at Stirling Bridge and it's entirely possible he was moved to the castle. “No one really knows where he was buried and no one really made a big deal about him after the Wars of Independence.” He listed several reasons for the suggestion.
1) The carbon dating indicated the knight could have died around 1297
2) Both died from battle wounds
3) They were both warriors, so could have suffered other wounds
4) They were roughly the same age, de Moray would have been 20-25
6) Andrew De Moray's position as a co-leader would have warranted him being buried at the Royal Chapel at Stirling Castle.
What the experts say
Shown below is some of the evidence that was used for the BBC programme;
Radio Carbon dating: A sample of bone was tested which showed the man probably died between 1290 and 1400.
Diet: The University of Dundee tested isotopes for diet which revealed that the man ate up to 30% sea fish. This is high by today’s standard but consistent with a medieval urban diet.
Origins: The isotopic data showed that from the ages of 8 to 15 he wasn’t growing up in Scotland at all, but somewhere in southern England or northern France.
Cause of Death: The arrow could have been the cause of death, but there was only a limited amount of evidence for associated bone damage. Arrows, however, often went through soft tissue. The arrowhead found in the skeleton was of a type used in warfare and hunting. Its barbs were designed to rip flesh, cause maximum haemorrhaging and only to be removed by pushing the arrowhead through the body.
Type of burial: The knight was probably only buried in the chapel because of extreme circumstances which stopped him being buried beyond the castle walls – a siege is a good explanation. To have been placed in such a prestigious spot also suggests he was important.
Who was he? Was he a Scot, English or even French? Perhaps he had been held prisoner as a boy in England, or as an adult in Scotland. The National Archive has documents relating to captives from the period and to the English Garrison at Stirling. These allowed the researchers to identify 14th-century men who might have had a similar experience to ours. They felt Sir John de Strychley was the best candidate.
What do you think? Give us your comments below