Scientists have identified the skeletal remains of a soldier found at Scotland's Stirling Castle as the first confirmed victim of a trebuchet attack. The individual, believed to be in his 20s, suffered catastrophic injuries consistent with a high-velocity impact from a large projectile, according to new evidence presented at the European meeting of the Paleopathology Association.
Dubbed skeleton 150, the remains exhibit over 160 fractures, including 61 breaks in the skull, a deep zigzag fracture on the shoulder, and nearly 60 jagged breaks on the ribs. Dr. Jo Buckberry of the University of Bradford, who led the analysis, stated that the pattern and severity of the breaks indicate a "very large area of impact and devastation," suggesting the soldier was killed by a siege engine.
The skeleton was unearthed in 1997 along with eight other individuals beneath the castle's chapel. Five of these skeletons date back to the early 1300s and showed signs of violent death. Stirling Castle was a strategic target during the Scottish Wars of Independence, changing hands multiple times between 1296 and 1304. Historical accounts suggest that the soldiers may have died during the final siege of 1304, when English forces under King Edward I attacked the castle.
While other skeletons bore injuries consistent with battle, skeleton 150's injuries were exceptionally severe. The nature of the breaks ruled out common causes of death such as falls from battlements or trampling. Dr. Buckberry noted that the injuries were comparable to those seen in high-speed vehicle accidents, leading researchers to seek a similarly powerful force from the medieval period.
Historical records from the 1304 siege revealed that English forces deployed trebuchets, a relatively new and formidable siege weapon at the time. Among these was "War Wolf," believed to be the largest trebuchet ever constructed. Contemporary accounts describe its projectiles penetrating castle walls with ease. If skeleton 150 was struck directly by a stone from such a weapon, his devastating injuries would be explained.
Forensic osteologist Lukas Waltenberger, who was not involved in the study, commented that the findings are convincing, indicating a "high-velocity, high-force, high-speed impact in a short amount of time."