Shock discovery of 15th century skeletons in Aberdeen

• Broadcast Date:

  Wednesday, April 8, 2009 on stv

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• Shock discovery of 15th century skeletons in Aberdeen

  A number of skeletons have been unearthed during renovation works at Aberdeen's historic Marischal College.
  
  The seven remains, believed to be Franciscan friars, were uncovered as work continues on the city council's new headquarters on the site. The men were thought to have lived and worked on the location.
  
  The site is historically sensitive with limited access.
  
  A Franciscan Friary once occupied the area from the late 15th century.
  
  Assistant archaeologist Alison Cameron said: "The seven individuals were all buried in a line with their heads against one wall of the friary - which may have been in the cloister.
  
  "They were buried in the 15th century - so from the 1460s onwards - and they were buried with their hands clasped or in prayer and apparently this is still done by Dominican burials to this day."
  
  Through the years numerous buildings have and come and gone from the site. Walls and cobbled surfaces have also been excavated by the teams of archaeologists.
  
  The remains have been described as a significant find. They will be sent to Glasgow University for analysis and will be re-interred at some point.

• Video Tags

  archaeologists, Marischal College, News, aberdeen city council

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