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The Enigmatic Castle Knight - History Cold Case - S01 EP03 - History Documentary

Banijay History・38 minutes read

A forensic investigation uncovers the identity of a powerful knight, Sir John Drewe, who likely died in battle at Stirling Castle during the Scottish Wars of Independence, showcasing the importance of combining historical research with scientific analysis to reveal his story with a reconstructed face resembling a football or rugby player.

Insights

  • The forensic investigation team, led by Professor Sue Black, uncovered the identity of a powerful Knight named Sir John Drewe, who likely died from a narrow wound while fighting in a Scottish castle during the Scottish Wars of Independence, despite being English. This discovery showcases the intricate blend of historical research and scientific analysis in unraveling the mysteries of the past, emphasizing the significance of combining these approaches for a comprehensive understanding of historical events and figures.
  • Sir John Drewe's reconstruction reveals a robust physique akin to a rugby player, indicating a physically strong individual, with his death likely caused by a lethal arrowhead, showcasing the impact of the rise of archers in medieval warfare. Isotope testing suggests an English origin for Sir John Drewe, aligning with historical records of English presence at Stirling Castle, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary methods in historical and forensic investigations to shed light on the complexities of individuals' lives and deaths across different historical contexts.

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Summary

00:00

"Forensic team uncovers medieval mystery"

  • Prisons' finest forensic investigation unit embarks on a groundbreaking mission.
  • Experts in human identification utilize modern technology for historical scans.
  • Forensic anthropology and facial reconstruction unveil dramatic personal stories from the past.
  • The team investigates a mysterious skeleton from Stirling Castle, revealing insights into a bloody historical period.
  • Archaeologists unearth skeletons from a forgotten room under the castle, including a powerful man with unusual wounds.
  • Forensic anthropologist Professor Sue Black leads the investigation into the man's identity and history.
  • The man's bones show signs of trauma and muscle development, indicating a violent and physically strong individual.
  • Historical research, bone analysis, and facial reconstruction techniques are employed to uncover the man's story.
  • The man lived between 1290 and 1400 during the Scottish Wars of Independence, shedding light on his historical context.
  • The investigation team collaborates to piece together the man's life, death, and significance in history.

18:31

Medieval Knight's Diet Revealed Through Bones

  • The River fourth marks the start of the highlands near a castle where a medieval conflict occurred.
  • A skull with sharp force trauma indicates a possible knight or man-at-arms from the medieval period.
  • Stirling Castle changed hands multiple times during the man's lifetime due to conflicts between Scots and English.
  • A woman found with similar head wounds raises questions about the conflict and weapons used.
  • A biological anthropologist identifies battle trauma on the woman's skull, suggesting a violent death.
  • The weapon that caused the woman's injuries is matched to a 16th-century flanged mace.
  • Women were involved in the Wars of Scottish Independence, like the Countess of Moray who defended her castle.
  • An examination of a skeleton reveals ankle and back injuries consistent with horse riding and knightly activities.
  • Historical research and isotopic testing suggest the man was a knight who consumed a diet high in saltwater fish.
  • The importance of preserved fish in medieval diets is highlighted, shedding light on the man's dietary habits as a knight.

35:25

Medieval Knight's Identity Revealed Through Reconstruction

  • Fish was a significant part of the medieval diet due to its association with religious virtue and avoidance of carnality.
  • Fish was a key provision for armies, making up over a third of their diet, as seen in English Xterra's calculations for provisioning his troops.
  • The face of the Stirling Knight is being reconstructed using pegs to indicate tissue depth and muscle additions based on a laser scan.
  • The Knight had a beefy neck and square face, with a reconstructed body showing a robust physique.
  • The Knight's death was likely caused by an arrowhead found with his bones, designed for maximum damage and difficult to remove.
  • The rise of archers was a turning point in warfare, with the Knight potentially falling victim to a lethal arrowhead.
  • Isotope tests on the Knight's tooth revealed he grew up in southern England or western France, not Scotland.
  • The Knight's possible English identity is supported by historical records of English presence at Stirling Castle, including a Knight who died there in 1341.
  • French troops were present in Scotland due to the old Alliance, but no evidence suggests a French burial at Stirling Castle.
  • The Knight's body reconstruction progresses, showing a rugby player-like physique, while archival research uncovers potential English identities for the Knight.

52:18

"Unveiling Sir John Drewe: Historical Discovery"

  • The team, through forensic investigation and historical research, has identified the buried individual as Sir John Drewe, a powerful battle-scarred Knight who likely died from a narrow wound while fighting the Scots in a Scottish castle, despite being English.
  • The discovery of Sir John Drewe's identity was unexpected and thrilling, as historical documents from the 14th century provided crucial information that science alone couldn't reveal, highlighting the importance of combining historical research with scientific analysis.
  • The team has reconstructed Sir John Drewe's face based on historical data, estimating his appearance to resemble that of a football or rugby player, marking the closure of the Knight's forensic journey and returning his identity after over 600 years.
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