Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Monday, 29 June 2026

Reconstruction of a medieval male skeleton from Stirling Castle


I came across on YouTube a video from the History Cold Case UK series which was looking at a male skeleton discovered in Stirling Castle during excavations as part of the ongoing restoration of the buildings. The Dundee based team led by Prof. Sue Black who carried out the research on the skeleton have great expertise in facial and body reconstruction both in respect of contemporary crime and violence and regarding historic remains from archaeological sites.

The skeleton was dated to the fourteenth century and the man had apparently been between 25 and 40 when he died. His death may well have been the result of an arrow, whose head was found near his body. 

What made this particular investigation interesting was that it revealed not only much about the active life the man had led, but eventually came to a potential identification in the records from the time, and giving him a name.  


The reconstruction of the knight’s head.
In the absence of any evidence no attempt has been made to indicate his hairstyle. The scar from a possible axe blow has however been included 

Image: Heritage World



There are articles about the investigation from 

Other episodes from the series, can also be found on YouTube


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