Scientists have identified the skeletal remains of a soldier at Scotland's Stirling Castle as the first confirmed victim of a trebuchet attack. The man, in his 20s, suffered over 160 fractures, including 61 to the skull, consistent with being struck by a large projectile from the medieval siege engine.
The skeleton, designated 150, was unearthed in 1997 along with eight other individuals beneath the castle's chapel. Five of these skeletons date to the early 1300s and showed signs of violent death. Researchers believe these individuals likely died during the final siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, when English forces under King Edward I attacked the Scottish defenders.
Stirling Castle was a strategic target during the Scottish Wars of Independence due to its location on a key route to Edinburgh. The castle changed hands multiple times between 1296 and 1304.
Analysis led by Dr. Jo Buckberry from the University of Bradford revealed extensive injuries on skeleton 150. The devastating pattern of fractures, particularly the shattered skull and broken ribs, ruled out common causes of death like falls or trampling. "The breaks indicate a very large area of impact and devastation. It’s likely the individual was killed by a siege engine," Buckberry stated. The injuries bore resemblance to modern high-velocity impacts, such as those from car crashes or train collisions.
Historical records from the 1304 siege mention the deployment of trebuchets by English forces. One particularly fearsome weapon, known as 'War Wolf,' is believed to have been the largest trebuchet ever constructed. Contemporary accounts describe it launching stones that could penetrate castle walls. The injuries sustained by skeleton 150 align with a direct hit from such a projectile. A forensic osteologist, Lukas Waltenberger, described the impact as "convincing," noting it was "a high-velocity, high-force, high-speed impact in a short amount of time."
Trebuchets, which became prominent in medieval warfare from the 12th century, utilized a long arm and counterweight system to hurl heavy objects over long distances, primarily targeting castles and fortified towns. The projectiles could weigh over 100 kg and be launched hundreds of meters.