Remains of man brutally murdered over 1400 years ago uncovered in a Black Isle cave

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'Rosemarkie Man' find lifts lid on brutal Black Isle murder 1400 years ago

19/02/17


A facial reconstruction of Rosemarkie Man, carried out by the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee. Picture: Rosemarkie Caves Project

THE remains of a man brutally murdered more than 1400 years ago have been uncovered in a Black Isle cave.

The grim discovery in one of the coastal caves near Rosemarkie was made by volunteers carrying out an archaeological excavation with the Rosemarkie Caves Project.

They had been expecting to find some evidence of human occupation of the cave extending back over a long period – but were astonished to find the skeleton of a man buried in a recess of the cave and covered in a layer of sand.

And it was only when the bones were sent to an expert forensic anthropologist that details of horrific injuries began to come to light.

Now, in addition to determining how he died, experts have been able to digitally reconstruct what the victim looked like.

In addition, a bone sample sent for radiocarbon dating indicates that he died sometime between 430 and 630 AD, during what is known as the Pictish period in Scotland.

The dig was being undertaken by the team of volunteers from the North of Scotland Archaeological Society, aiming, under the leadership of local amateur archaeologist, Simon Gunn, to determine when the cave might have been occupied.

Below substantial layers relating to use over the centuries, they found evidence that the cave had been used for iron-smithing during the Pictish period.


The skeleton find stunned archaeologists excavating in the cave. Picture: Rosemarkie Caves Project

Hearths and extensive iron-working debris indicated that the cave was selected specifically for this use – but, they say, the totally unexpected find of the skeleton of a man who had been brutally killed gives the cave a completely different significance.

The skeleton was located in an alcove of the cave, near the metal-working area, with the body placed in an unusual cross-legged position, with large stones holding down his legs and arms.

Prior to its discovery, there had been nothing to suggest that it was there.

The remains were sent to Professor Dame Sue Black, director of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee – who has compiled a detailed account of the horrific attack which resulted in the man’s death.

She said: “This is a fascinating skeleton in a remarkable state of preservation and which has been expertly recovered.

“From studying his remains we learned a little about his short life, but much more about his violent death.

“As you can see from the facial reconstruction, he was a striking young man who was cut down in his prime by brutal interpersonal conflict.”

Professor Black, who is a leading expert in the analysis of human remains, explained how she had been able to reconstruct the violent last moments of his life.

She said: “We have identified at least four or five impacts that resulted in fracturing to his face and skull.

“The first impact was by a circular cross-section implement that broke his teeth on the right side.

“The second may have been the same implement used like a fighting stick, which broke his jaw on the left.

“The third resulted in fracturing to the back of his head as he fell from the blow to his jaw with a tremendous force, possibly onto a hard object, perhaps stone.

“The fourth was intended to end his life as probably the same weapon was driven through his skull from one side and out the other as he lay on the ground.

“The fifth was not in keeping with the injuries caused in the other four, where a hole, larger than that caused by the previous weapon, was made in the top of the skull.

“Was this a coup de grace or was it done after death in some form of ritual in keeping with the stones buried on his body? We simply can’t tell.”

Steven Birch, a local professional archaeologist and volunteer leader of the excavation, was amazed to learn about the amount of trauma the man had sustained.


Excavators at work on the Learnie project which has resulted in a find which has stunned and excited archaeologists. Picture: Rosemarkie Cave Project

He said: “Having specialised in prehistoric cave archaeology in Scotland for some years now, I am fascinated with the results.

“Here we have a man who has been brutally killed, but who has been laid to rest in the cave with some consideration – placed on his back, within a dark alcove, and weighed down by beach stones.

“The style of the death, which included considerable ‘overkill’ is reminiscent of the Iron Age bog bodies, examples of which had been pinned down in watery pools using wooden stakes and hurdles.

“While we don’t know why the man was killed, the placement of his remains gives us an insight into the culture of those who buried him.

“Perhaps his murder was the result of interpersonal conflict – or was there a sacrificial element relating to his death?”

The Rosemarkie Caves Project has for some years been locating and accurately surveying the series of caves extending for several miles along the coast of the Black Isle.

A number of small test-pit excavations over the past few years have provided evidence that the caves were being occupied, or at least utilised in some way, from 1,500 to 2,000 years ago until the recent past.

Said project founder Simon Gunn: “When I first started looking into these caves, I never dreamed we would find anything like this – it was so unexpected.

“I remember all the excitement when the remains of Richard III were found under a carpark – well, Rosemarkie Man died 900 years before that, so you cannot imagine our reaction when we first uncovered these human remains and then learned about his brutal death”.

The cave excavation has also provided information about the more recent past, including objects left behind by occupants and temporary travellers living inside the cave 200 to 300 years ago.

Evidence from this later period suggests that the inhabitants were making, or repairing, leather shoes, possibly for distribution to local communities on the Black Isle.

Ongoing specialist analysis on the skeleton and artefacts from the cave is expected to provide more details of the man’s place of origin and significance as well as provide more information about the cave’s archaeological and historical importance.

http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/N...o-19022017.htm

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