A skeleton bearing more than 160 fractures has been identified as the first confirmed victim of a trebuchet-style catapult, according to a new examination of 700-year-old remains found at Stirling Castle in Scotland.
Dr Jo Buckberry, an archaeologist at the University of Bradford who specialises in medieval warfare, re-examined the remains, known as Skeleton 150, and concluded the man had been struck by a giant projectile travelling at rapid speed, The Times reported.
The bones were originally excavated in 1997, buried alongside eight other people beneath the royal chapel at Stirling Castle.
Extent of the injuries
The ribs showed nearly 60 zigzag-shaped fractures, and the shoulder had suffered a deep break, while the skull alone had more than 60 fractures.
"I had never seen anything like it, ever," Dr Buckberry said. "Every single rib on both sides has at least one fracture. The whole shoulder complex is crushed. The skull alone has over 60 fractures."
She later saw a comparable injury at a forensic anthropology workshop, belonging to a person killed in a car crash. "The reason it's weird is that it's a high-velocity injury, and you just don't get high velocity in the medieval period," she told the newspaper.
Dr Buckberry studied the remains with Patrick Randolph-Quinney of Uppsala University. They found the injuries did not conform with a fall from castle walls. Instead, the fractures suggested the man had been standing when he was struck from behind, killing him instantly, according to Archaeology News magazine.
What is a trebuchet?
A trebuchet is a medieval siege engine used to hurl heavy objects over long distances. A long wooden arm is mounted on a pivot, with a sling attached to one end and a heavy counterweight on the other.
When released, the counterweight drops rapidly, swinging the arm upward and launching the sling's projectile at high speed. Trebuchets were typically used against castles and fortified towns, smashing walls or hurling objects over defences, and became especially important in warfare from around the 12th century before gunpowder artillery gradually replaced them.
Possible link to King Edward I
England's King Edward I unveiled a trebuchet known as "War Wolf" in 1304. Historical records show it was used during his siege of Stirling Castle in the Scottish Wars of Independence.
That raises the possibility that War Wolf was the weapon that killed Skeleton 150 and caused his unusual injuries.
Trebuchets were operated using a counterweight to propel a long arm attached to a sling, capable of hurling a projectile with great force and accuracy at enemy fortifications. The weapon struck fear into enemy soldiers and was used by besiegers to bombard fortresses or cities with stones, burning balls and other heavy objects, though it was more often aimed at breaking down castle walls than at individual soldiers.
