Technology reveals face of 17th century Scottish soldier found near church

The soldier was among 3,000 marched south in 1650 following the short but bloody Battle of Dunbar to the then abandoned Durham Cathedral.

In 2013, between 17 and 28 skeletons were found in a mass grave close to the cathedral and Durham University experts carried out extensive research on the remains to identify who they were.

Archaeologists have collaborated with Liverpool John Moores University’s Face Lab specialists – who used sophisticated software to create an digital image of what one of the soldiers looked like.

They took parts of the skull of one of the soldiers, a man aged 18-25 known as Skeleton 22, carefully rebuilt them and made a scan to work from to rebuild his face.

What emerged on screen was a wide-mouthed man with a strong nose and he has been depicted wearing a blue bonnet and the brown jacket typical of a Scottish solider of the time.

Professor Chris Gerrard, of Durham University’s Department of Archaeology, said: “The resulting image is a poignant opportunity to come face to face with a young man who lived and died over 300 years ago.”

Professor Caroline Wilkinson, of Face Lab, said: “Our collaboration with Durham University enabled us to draw on scans and data to create the most accurate and lifelike image possible to enable a true glimpse into the past of this Scottish soldier and how his life had been lived.”

Bone testing has revealed…