Archaeologists in Scotland have unearthed a stone artillery ball of the type launched from a trebuchet in the Middle Ages

The type and size of the ball date it to the 13th century, a time when Scotland was under heavy assault by Edward I in full Malleus Scotorum mode. 

The find was made in the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh’s Old Town where excavations are taking place in advance of construction of a new hotel. The neighborhood lies in a hollow below Edinburgh Castle, a prime location for a medieval catapult balls to settle into for hundreds of years.

Amazingly good teeth on that lad for someone from the UK.

The 1296 Siege of Edinburgh during the First War of Scottish Independence is probably the best candidate for when this ball was hurled. This was the first major battle at the castle since it was built in the 12th century. For three days, Edward Longshanks of England bombarded Edinburgh Castle non-stop using all the heavy artillery in his arsenal. This could be one of the many balls catapulted by Longshanks during the siege, or it could be one of the ones lobbed at him from the castle ramparts.

Over the centuries around 23 different siege attempts were made on Edinburgh Castle and experts have been intrigued by the latest discovery.

John Lawson, City of Edinburgh Council archaeologist, said: “It looks like the type of ball which would have been fired by a trebuchet, one of the most powerful catapults used in the Middle Ages.

“Worldwide, the most famous account of a trebuchet is that of Warwolf, the giant catapult used by Edward I’s army at Stirling Castle in 1304.

“What we’ve discovered here suggests similar weapons were also used in Edinburgh, possibly even during Edward I’s Siege of Edinburgh in 1296, when the Stone of Destiny was stolen and the castle taken out of Scottish hands.

Warwolf must have been one frightening piece of war material.

From the always good History Blog.