The Battle Of The Bleeding Pits : part 2

The Evidence

There are a number of medieval sources covering events in this period, and there are often different versions of these sources.

Of the early medieval sources included by the 20th century Scottish historian Alan Orr Anderson in Early Sources of Scottish History none mention a battle at Gamrie or any in 1004.

John Fordun, the 14th century Scottish historian, in his Chronicle of the Scottish Nation states that Malcolm became king in 1004, and within a few days of his coronation defeated a Norwegian army in the north. On three occasions he defeated Danes and once they were defeated by natives when he was not present.

Aberdeenshire Historic Environmental Records notes that the existing ruin of St John’s is 16th and 17th century and is possibly on the site of an earlier church, although there is “no documentary evidence of its existence until the late 12th century”.

The Ordnance Survey card for the Bloody Pits and Danish Camp on trove.scot record that the site was investigated by N.K. Blood on 10th February 1965, and states that there are no traces of a “Danish Camp” and the Bloody Pits are natural. Its also notes “Battle (Doubtful site of ~ AD1004)".