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Author
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Topic: Human Remains, Cemetaries in relation to Fortified Structures
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Bluewater
Senior Member
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posted 03-31-2000 02:55 PM
  
Does anyone have any guesses at how many fortified structures (castles, keeps, towers, etc) have either cemetaries, family plots etc on the property? I know at times unmarked graves popped up (a couple years ago while visiting a friend on one of my annual trips, a local tower was being restored and while digging near the wall perimeter they discovered a human femur and a couple metacarpals (leg and finger bones IIRC). I haven't heard anything else about it though, and I don't recall the name of the tower/property (but I'm in the process of finding out). Would say the bodies of individuals killed in assaulting/defending the structure(s) often be buried where they fell/close to where they fell? Would these graves be marked, even with a simple stone? I've seen a few larger, mass graves near/by fortified structures that were marked by stones and the like, but I've heard stories of people more or less being buried in unmarked graves. I suppose vandals could have removed stones over the years as well. Has anyone here ever heard of restorationists coming across unmarked/unknown/unrecorded graves? Spooky stuff...Bluewater |
Geoff
Senior Member
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posted 04-04-2000 04:01 PM
I can't give you a definite answer on this as castles were privately owned and used as their owners saw fit. All I can say is that I haven't come across any references to bodies being buried within medieval castles as a matter of custom. I somehow doubt that many owners would have been very keen to have bodies buried within the walls.A few large castles had separate chapels or churches within the walls and it is possible that burials may have taken place within those buildings or the adjoining sanctified ground. However, medieval castle owners usually had connections with certain churches or particular religious foundations such as abbeys. They were usually buried in places like that, not in their castles. Attacking enemies would probably have been buried with little ceremony (unless they were of a high social rank). Certainly on battle sites the dead were often buried in mass graves. One also has to remember that some castles featured in later wars long after they had ceased to function as the fortified homes of great men. Geoff |
wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 04-04-2000 04:33 PM
I would tend to agree with what Geoff says,
and can give one example of a bodies being uncovered within the precincts of chapels within castle walls. That was at Stirling, once home to the Scottish Royal family. It is believed that the bodies belonged to priests or other servants of the crown based at the castle. All of the royal graves were elsewhere.
I can however add to the curiosity aroused by your question.
At the site of Lee Castle, in Clarkston just south of Glasgow, Scotland, excavation disclosed human bones described by the 18th century 'Old statistical Account' to be of 'Superhuman magnitude'. Whether this refers to numbers of bones or the size, we will now never know. This castle to my knowledge was never beseiged. At Strathaven castle, the ghostly apparition of one of the Ladies of the house used to appear. The spectre was never again seen after the discovery of a female skeleton within the walls, and the same given decent burial.
Also at Drumsagard, next door to me, the site of the old castle was excavated and again the dig produced human bones. Though looking at the interpretation of Drum Sagard, from druim saigard, Hill of the priests, one could imagine that once there may have been sacrifices nearby.
There are doubtless many other examples.
One valid explanation is that where the power of pit and gallows was held in Scotland, hangings were sometimes carried out from the battlements. The corpses in some cases would have remained to rot as warning to others, and the bones could conceivably have fallen to collect below. (though unless they were buried the carrion eaters would have removed some of them).
From an early date it was common for barons to have both a court (moot) hill and a gallows hill close to their mote and bailey. Hanging corpses would have certainly provided a gruesome reminder of the power of the Lord within the castle, and a deterrant to others.
Traditional medieval villages/towns followed a common plan, castle at one end of the main street and church at the other. It is at the original church sites that you find the Lords buried (unless as Geoff says they had an attachment to an abbey or the like). Lords were generally patrons of some church or another, and their status was reflected in the size of the church. They would have chosen to be buried in their own church grounds.
There was a mausoleum in the gardens at Bedlay, near Glasgow, of much later date than the castle. it was removed to a new cemetry about 100 years after it's construction.
The Dukes of Hamilton also had a large mausoleum,(still standing) close to the site of their Palace. It again was built after the 'fortified period' of the house.
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The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
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[This message has been edited by wurdsmiff (edited 04-04-2000).] |
Bluewater
Senior Member
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posted 04-04-2000 05:44 PM
Hey there Geoff! I didn't mean bodies being buried IN the castles, but ie along side, near etc (we know there's ploys and the like by some...IIRC CLonony Castle in Ireland (which is for sale) has a grave right out in front of the gate (marked by a giant slab...now if the graves are undisturbed...who knows...here's hoping). I know some folks have occasionally run across humain remains on land that fortified structures lay on (unmarked/UN ID'd that is)...I'm just curious how customary it was. Also with people such as slaves or what have you. Bluewater | |
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