Discussions

The battle of Inverboyndie

The location of the mound of skulls

The 1766 survey shows the road where it is today, and the churchyard wall set back from the road. The northern wall now lies beside the road. It has been moved just under 30 yards from the original.

The Banffshire Field Club description of the site of the trench of bones and the one by Rev Anderson regarding the mound appear to differ. Were there two different bone filled areas?

Or just one whose position was incorrectly noted?

If the mound was south of the road, then it would make sense for it to be excavated as it now lay either in the extended churchyard or under the new north wall.

If it lay 30 yards north of the wall, why would the extension of churchyard require the mound to be excavated?

The area marked as Arrdanes has two distinct areas. To the west it rises sharply from the road to form a large plateau, to the east it drops sharply to form a smaller area, which becomes boggy as it reaches the river. It is unclear from Rev Anderson’s description which part the mound was in.

The fields

The name of fields seems unusual. Are any other examples where the deployment an enemy force’s units was recorded in place names?

The idea of the 2 divisions in separate fields, widely separated by a valley and river would make little sense.

The finds

The pin is an intriguing find, whilst not found on Arrdanes, it was only a mile and half away.

Further investigation of this area may be useful.

Dating the skulls and other investigative work might establish the likelihood of them being associated with the battle.

Whilst The Banffshire Field Club was told of weapons and bones being found in the fields, none are held by the Aberdeenshire Museum Service or by Banff Museum. Are there any held in another collection or in private hands?

The records

None of the early records specifically mention a battle at Inverboyndie. John Fordun states King Malcolm defeated Norwegians in 1004, although this event is absent from the sources recorded by Alan Orr Anderson.

The 18th century maps do not mention the fields or a battle site, and some the 19th century maps do.

The Battle Of The Bleeding Pits

The finds

Other than the skull there do not appear to be any other finds from the site associated with the battle or period. If the skull still exits, then dating it may be useful in helping to establish the validity of the tradition.

The records

None of the early records specifically mention a battle at Gamrie. John Fordun states King Malcolm defeated Norwegians in 1004, although this event is absent from the sources recorded by Alan Orr Anderson.

The story told by Rev. Thomas Wilson whilst very detailed, was perhaps more suited for those tourists who were taking parts of the skulls in the early 19th century rather than an accurate account of the events.

The 1822 map by James Robertson more closely matches the 1791 account by Rev. W Wilson, with a camp on the flat area at the top of the hill, however field investigation in 1961 found no trace of a camp.