Seventeenth Century Scottish soldiers reburied in Durham

The remains of Seventeenth Century Scottish soldiers, discovered during construction work at the University's Palace Green Library in 2013, have been reburied in Durham City. The remains of the soldiers, who were imprisoned and died in Durham following the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, were laid to rest at Elvet Hill Road Cemetery, less than a mile from the original exhumation site on Palace Green, part of the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Reflecting Seventeenth Century traditions A simple graveside service was held and the remains were reburied in a bespoke casket. Both the service and casket were intended to reflect the traditions of the Seventeenth Century. During the reburial service attendees were given the opportunity to scatter a handful of Scottish soil into the grave, in acknowledgement of the origins of many of the soldiers. Professor Chris Gerrard , of the Department of Archaeology , said: "It has been a privilege to research these soldiers and, having learnt so much from their remains, it was important to us to lay them to rest with respect and dignity. "Today we are able to give these men the burial they were denied when they died almost 400 years ago." Respectful and dignified The reburial service was designed by Durham Cathedral , and representatives from the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church were invited to comment, to ensure a respectful and dignified final committal.