A SIMPLE graveside ceremony was held yesterday as the remains of 17th-century Scottish prisoners of war were reburied after their discovery during building work at an English university.

Expert analysis of the bones of up to 28 skeletons over the past five years by Durham University revealed they had been held captive in the then empty Durham Cathedral following the victory of Oliver Cromwell’s English army of the 1650 Battle of Dunbar.

In-depth research, including facial reconstruction of one of the skulls, has revealed a wealth of information about the soldiers, who died from causes such as malnutrition, disease and cold. Around 70 people attended the reburial at a cemetery less than a mile from where the remains were found. They had the opportunity to scatter a handful of Scottish soil into the grave, and a Scottish Psalter and King James I Bible were used.

Professor Chris Gerrard of the university’s archaeology department said the service had helped those involved in the research project to see the human side of the study.

He said: “When you put the bones into a casket and go through a ceremony like that, it reminds you these were real people, real people who have told us an interesting story about health in Scotland and life in the extraordinary 17th century.”