Remains of 13th century knight found in Edinburgh

[mgc1961]

The remains of a medieval knight have been discovered underneath a car park that is being demolished at a city-centre building site.

The skeleton was found in Edinburgh’s Old Town after archaeologists uncovered the corner of an elaborately decorated sandstone slab bearing markings of a member of the nobility – the carvings of the Calvary Cross and an ornate sword.

An excavation of the immediate area uncovered the adult skeleton, which archaeologists said is likely to have once occupied the nearby grave.

The discovery is being hailed as having the potential to be “one of the most significant and exciting archaeological discoveries in the city for years”.

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/medieval-knight-remains-found-in-edinburgh-car-park-1-2833518

[Turbineguy]

1. There once was a Knight named Sir Nates

Who tried the rhumba on skates
He slipped on his cutlass
Which rendered him nutless
And also quite useless on dates.

[JimDandy]

2. To me the significance of this find was...

"The knight’s remains have also revealed the exact location of Blackfriars Monastery, which was founded in 1230 by Alexander II – king of Scotland from 1214 to 1249 – before it was destroyed during the Reformation."

also:

"The excavation also revealed several more human burials, including children, with the bodies lying in an east-west location, which is typical of Christian burials."

Sounds like this means in an east-west orientation, so that the heads of these skeletons were in the east and the feet were in line and directly west of the head? Or is it the other way around, so the face of the skeleton looked at the rising sun? In any case, interesting to learn this orientation was typical of a Christian burial. Wonder if that holds today?

And all this on the heels of the King Richard III skeletal discovery!