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Macbeth's Castle Unearthed In Inverness Garden?
Inverness Courier ^ | 5-28-2004

Posted on 05/28/2004 12:51:10 PM PDT by blam

Macbeth's castle unearthed in Inverness garden?

LOCAL history enthusiasts believe they have unearthed positive evidence that a former King of Scotland maintained a castle in Inverness.

Tradition has persisted that Macbeth had a stronghold at Auldcastle Road in the Crown area of the city - hence the name.

Now an archaeological dig by members of the Inverness Local History Forum in the garden of the appropriately-named house Dun Macbeth has uncovered what could be the most important finds to date.

Some artefacts, including pieces of medieval glass and what are thought to be whalebone and porpoise or dolphin bones have been sent away for examination.

But what has really excited the Forum is the discovery of a dressed stone wall underneath what was a raised feature in the garden.

"We don't know for certain if it was Macbeth's castle but certainly everything points to it, " chairman George Christie declared.

"We thought at first it might be just part of a Victorian terraced garden so we cut through that and came upon various layers of archaeological evidence dating beyond the Victorian era back to medieval times."

He described how, at the bottom of the trench, they found a wall over two metres thick.

"Everyone thought that if there was a castle there it would have been a wooden fort. But it is now our belief it had a stone curtain wall with wooden buildings inside."

Evidence was found in the area of a medieval well and Forum members unearthed a silver coin dating back to the 12th Century.

"It was obvious they had been eating either porpoises or dolphins but we can't distinguish between the bones so they have been sent off for examination, " Mr Christie added. "Seafood was obviously an important part of their diet because we also found mussels and oyster shells."

Whalebone was found in another pit and a large post hole which could have supported a roof.

There were also signs of destructive burning, which ties in with the belief that Malcolm Canmore burned down the castle in 1056 in revenge for the death of his father King Duncan at the hands of Macbeth in 1040.

The dig was the first archaeological excavation of the site and the Forum was assisted by freelance consultant archaeologist Stuart Farrell, along with Patricia Weeks and Jon Watt from Inverness Museum.

Mr Christie is now sure there was a defensive wall on the site.

"Some people have questioned the suitability of the area as a site for a castle, " he commented.

"But we have conclusive evidence that the sea came right up to Millburn Road below the hill on which Auld Castle road sits.

"So the site was above the coastline with views right out across the Moray Firth."

Dun Macbeth is owned by Dr Timothy Palmer, a pathologist at Raigmore Hospital, and his wife Rhona. They have been aware of the history of the site since they moved into the house 14 years ago.

Mrs Palmer said the team were very considerate and restored her garden after their work was finished.

"I'll be interested to hear the results of the test, " she said.

28/05/2004


TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: archaeologicaldig; archaeology; castle; economic; garden; ggg; godsgravesglyphs; history; inverness; macbeths; museum; royals; scotland; scotlandyet; shakespeare; unearthed
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To: blam

Now, if they can just find Burham Wood over there in Dunsenane ...


21 posted on 05/29/2004 9:59:47 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: blam

BTTT


22 posted on 06/24/2007 10:13:49 PM PDT by Cincinna (HILLARY & HER HINO :: Keep the Arkansas Grifters out of the White house.)
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Just updating the GGG information, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

23 posted on 07/03/2007 11:01:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Time heals all wounds, particularly when they're not yours. Profile updated July 3, 2007.)
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To: blam; sionnsar

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·

 
Gods
Graves
Glyphs
From 2004. Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
 

·Dogpile · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society ·
· Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google ·
· The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·


24 posted on 10/20/2009 6:42:51 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: DuncanWaring; snuffy smiff; ottbmare; colorcountry; Irish Eyes; Cailleach; ReneeLynn; Beowulf9; ...
Thanks to SunkenCiv for the ping.

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Pipes and Drums of FreeRepublic ping!

This is an ultra-low-volume ping list (typically weeks to months between pings, for matters related to Highland bagpipes and Scotland).
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this list.

Going to the Games? Organize a Clan FReeper get-together!

25 posted on 10/21/2009 3:20:10 PM PDT by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|Remember Neda Agha-Soltan|TV--it's NOT news you can trust)
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To: blam

BUAIDH NO BAS!


26 posted on 10/21/2009 3:30:53 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: blam

Five years ago. What’s the diagnosis?


27 posted on 10/21/2009 5:10:05 PM PDT by ReneeLynn (Socialism is SO yesterday. Fascism, it*s the new black. Mmm Mmm Mmm.)
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To: sionnsar
This thread is from 2004.

We Scots like to live in the past, but this is just silly. 8~)

28 posted on 10/21/2009 6:16:11 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: sionnsar

We are going to the Meadow Highlands Games and Celtic Festival on Saturday (between Fredricksburg, and Richmond, VA).
http://www.richmondceltic.com/home


29 posted on 10/22/2009 5:13:36 AM PDT by Cailleach
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