Skeletons of seven praying monks found at college dig

Published on Tuesday 7 April 2009 22:22

THE skeletons of seven monks from a medieval friary have been unearthed by archaeologists during excavations at the site of Aberdeen City Council's new headquarters, it was revealed yesterday.

The remarkably preserved skeletons of the seven men, believed to have been friars at the city's ancient Franciscan Friary, were discovered during a dig in the quadrangle of Marischal College, the former university building which is to be the new 80 million offices of the city authority.

Marischal College was founded in 1593 by the Earl Marischal – on the site of the Franciscan Friary in what is now Broad Street – as the second university in Aberdeen, following the foundation of King's College in 1495 by Bishop William Elphinstone. The medieval friary was demolished to make way for the college's construction.

Alison Cameron, the council's assistant archaeologist, said: "These are extremely interesting and exciting finds. It is very unusual to find what we have discovered – seven individuals buried together with their hands in prayer."

She said that, based on an analysis of their teeth, it would be possible to establish where they grew up.

"The bone is very well preserved and we will also be able to find out how old they were when they died, what diseases they had and what their life was like."

A council spokeswoman said the Franciscan Friars came to Aberdeen in the 1460s and it is likely that these burials took place not long after this date.

The bones will be sent to Glasgow University for further examination.