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A Knight's Tale
The latest scientific techniques have helped unravel the secrets of a powerful warrior laid to rest in one of the castle’s most important places.
What emerges is the tale of an immensely strong young man who was struck down during the Wars of Independence between Scotland and England in the 1300s.
Historic Scotland has been working closely with forensic anthropologists from the University of Dundee, led by the internationally renowned Professor Sue Black, to discover who he was, where he was from, and how he died.
What emerges is the tale of an immensely strong young man who was struck down during the Wars of Independence between Scotland and England in the 1300s.
Historic Scotland has been working closely with forensic anthropologists from the University of Dundee, led by the internationally renowned Professor Sue Black, to discover who he was, where he was from, and how he died.
On Thursday 20th May at 9pm, BBC 2’s History Cold Case series will reveal the answers they came up with and show a startling reconstruction of what the knight looked like. The Dundee experts, who have studied hundreds of skeletons from many periods and from all round the world, had rarely encountered someone of such physical strength.
All the evidence points to him having been a knight, brought up spending a lot of time on horseback and trained to use weighty medieval weapons – giving him a physique like the most muscular of rugby or American Football players.
Past research by Historic Scotland suggested that he met a violent death, but little more was known – the castle changed hands several times so he could have been Scottish, English, or even French.
Stable isotope analysis has now been used to find out where he grew up and even what sort of food he ate.
The programme also suggests which of the many clashes at the castle may have claimed his life, and even comes up with a possible name. It also becomes clear that the knight was incredibly tough, having recovered from a series of severe and disfiguring wounds before he was finally killed.
● Further information about the History Cold Case series.
All the evidence points to him having been a knight, brought up spending a lot of time on horseback and trained to use weighty medieval weapons – giving him a physique like the most muscular of rugby or American Football players.
Past research by Historic Scotland suggested that he met a violent death, but little more was known – the castle changed hands several times so he could have been Scottish, English, or even French.
Stable isotope analysis has now been used to find out where he grew up and even what sort of food he ate.
The programme also suggests which of the many clashes at the castle may have claimed his life, and even comes up with a possible name. It also becomes clear that the knight was incredibly tough, having recovered from a series of severe and disfiguring wounds before he was finally killed.
● Further information about the History Cold Case series.
