Archaeology and the Battle of Dunbar 1650: From the Scottish Battlefield to the New World

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in history or archaeology. It will be of particular interest to those in (or interested in) the North East of England, Scotland, and the United States

descendants of the Dunbar survivors

and those working in archaeology and heritage.

What topics will you cover?

The discovery of the soldiers and the evidence gathered from maps, historic buildings and the archaeology at the site.

The study of their human remains and the information extracted about pathologies, trauma and medieval conditions.

The role of archaeological science (radiocarbon, isotopes) in revealing more about life in the 17th century.

The historical background to the battle of Dunbar and its wider political context.

The fate of the survivors and prisoners of war sent across the Atlantic.

The controversy over repatriation, the reburial of the human remains and archaeological ethics.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to…

Interpret a range of on-site evidence above and below ground and draw your own conclusions.

Explain how skeleton science can develop biographies of individuals.

Evaluate the impact of archaeological science, for example dating techniques and isotopic analysis.

Compare the differing contributions of archaeology and history in understanding past events.

Debate and report on the issues around the reburial of human remains from archaeological sites.