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| Skeleton under primary school in Edinburgh could have been a pirate | Skeleton under primary school in Edinburgh could have been a pirate |
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| A skeleton discovered under a primary school playground could be that of a 16th-century pirate, archaeologists have said. | A skeleton discovered under a primary school playground could be that of a 16th-century pirate, archaeologists have said. |
| The remains of a man were uncovered by council workers during survey work for an extension at Victoria primary school in Edinburgh last year. | The remains of a man were uncovered by council workers during survey work for an extension at Victoria primary school in Edinburgh last year. |
| Experts at AOC Archaeology carbon-dated the bones to the 16th or 17th century and, working with forensic artist Hayley Fisher, created a facial reconstruction of the man, thought to have been in his 50s. | Experts at AOC Archaeology carbon-dated the bones to the 16th or 17th century and, working with forensic artist Hayley Fisher, created a facial reconstruction of the man, thought to have been in his 50s. |
| The school, the city’s oldest working primary, is located near Newhaven harbour where a gibbet stood in the dockyards 600 years ago. It is believed the man could have been executed for piracy or other crimes before being buried in a shallow, unmarked grave. | The school, the city’s oldest working primary, is located near Newhaven harbour where a gibbet stood in the dockyards 600 years ago. It is believed the man could have been executed for piracy or other crimes before being buried in a shallow, unmarked grave. |
| Archaeologists said the condition of the bones and location of the burial close to the sea and gibbet suggested the man was killed before being displayed to deter other pirates. | |
| Councillor Richard Lewis, culture convener for the council, said: “Edinburgh has an undeniably intriguing past and some of our archaeological discoveries have been in the strangest of places. | Councillor Richard Lewis, culture convener for the council, said: “Edinburgh has an undeniably intriguing past and some of our archaeological discoveries have been in the strangest of places. |
| “It’s fantastic that through the council’s archaeology and museums service, we are able to investigate such discoveries and add to our understanding of Newhaven’s heritage.” | “It’s fantastic that through the council’s archaeology and museums service, we are able to investigate such discoveries and add to our understanding of Newhaven’s heritage.” |
| The school’s headteacher, Laura Thompson, said: “The pupils think it’s fantastic that a skeleton was found deep underneath their playground. | The school’s headteacher, Laura Thompson, said: “The pupils think it’s fantastic that a skeleton was found deep underneath their playground. |
| “The archaeologists will hold a special lesson with some of the children about how they have used science to analyse the remains and it will be a good learning opportunity for them.” | “The archaeologists will hold a special lesson with some of the children about how they have used science to analyse the remains and it will be a good learning opportunity for them.” |