Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – The Massacre of Glencoe occurred in Glen Coe, located in the Highlands of Scotland, on February 13, 1692. Approximately 38 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by Scottish government forces.
This tragic event was reportedly due to their failure to pledge allegiance to the new monarchs, William III and Mary II. Among those killed were Clan Chief Alasdair Ruadh “MacIain” MacDonald and his wife.
Recently, archaeologists conducting excavations in the Scottish Highlands have discovered significant artifacts that provide further insights into these historical events.
Treasure Trow Of Untold Stories Hidden For Centuries Beneath The Earth
Supported by the National Trust for Scotland, a dedicated team of archaeologists and students from the University of Glasgow, along with various volunteers, have embarked on their second year of excavations in Glencoe. Their goal is to deepen our understanding of this pivotal period in Scottish history, particularly the events leading up to the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692.
Glencoe Massacre Memorial. Credit: Kim Traynor – CC BY-SA 3.0
The archaeological work at the abandoned township of Arhnacon has revealed numerous artifacts that offer valuable insights into daily life in 17th-century Glencoe. Among these discoveries are German and French pottery, intricately decorated knife handles, loom weights used for weaving, shoe buckles, and fragments of tobacco pipes.
On the night when tragedy struck during the massacre, MacDonald of Achnacon, a cousin to the Clan Chief, was hosting a gathering that included his brother MacDonald of Achtriochtan.
They drank and gambled into the early hours until gunfire from government troops abruptly halted them at 5 a.m., shattering windows and doors.
Recent excavations have uncovered MacDonald of Achnacon’s turf-walled house. Notably among their findings was a collection of 17th-century bronze coins, possibly remnants from gambling on that ill-fated night, as well as evidence suggesting an escape attempt: a bent plaid pin and two pieces from lead musket balls found just outside his home. These items may mark where MacDonald managed to flee after shedding his cloak over his attackers before disappearing into the darkness.
Dr. Edward Stewart, Co-Director of Excavations and recent PhD graduate from the University of Glasgow highlights the significance of these artifacts in offering insights into the human narratives linked to major historical events. He noted that by examining the dwellings and archaeological findings in Glencoe, researchers can gain a deeper understanding not only of the tragic 1692 Massacre but also of the daily lives of people residing and working in Glencoe during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Achnacon drone photo, showing excavation trenches and the village’s agricultural land. Photo: Aris Palyvos
“Recent discoveries – both in Achnacon this year and the Summerhouse of MacIain in 2023 – allow us to connect with the people who once called this glen ‘home’ in a profoundly personal way. We’re not just uncovering the grand events of history, but the individual human stories that were so painfully disrupted. These help to give intimate insights into the lives and livelihoods, diets, beliefs and experiences of those who lived in this landscape over 300 years ago,” Dr. Stewart said.
In addition to the relics discovered within the ruins of a 17th-century dwelling, the team’s landscape surveys have provided valuable insights into the longstanding relationship between Achnacon’s inhabitants and their environment. According to the archaeology team, this deep connection with the land underscores the severe impact that both the massacre and subsequent clearances would have had on the local community.
University of Glasgow undergraduate student Alexander McClure holds a 17th-century plate fragment he has just discovered. Photo: Derek Alexander
“It’s abundantly clear that the people of Achnacon were totally dependent on this land. Understanding that relationship allows us to empathize more fully with the trauma they endured when their world was so violently upended,” Professor Michael Given, Professor of Landscape Archaeology and Co-Director of the University of Glasgow’s archaeological project in Glencoe said.
Derek Alexander, Head of Archaeology at the National Trust for Scotland, which manages the Glencoe National Nature Reserve, explains that the remnants of 17th and 18th-century townships in Glencoe are frequently understated. This subtlety is due to materials from these structures often being repurposed for subsequent buildings, dykes, and sheepfolds.
Excavations of the kailyard, looking up Glencoe. Photo: Derek Alexander.
“The better-preserved historic sites lie further into the glen away from the modern village at the lochside. Achnacon township displays the remains of four or five buildings, a kailyard or small kitchen garden and traces of rig cultivation.
It lies within sight of the replica turf house constructed a few years ago at the National Trust for Scotland visitor centre and can be reached along the length of a newly-built walking and cycle track, the Glencoe Greenway.
Dr. Edward Stewart holds the copper alloy plaid pin found just outside the 17th-century house at Achnacon. Photo: Michael Given
Step by step we are gaining a better understanding of where and how people lived in the glen and enabling visitors today to engage in new ways with the landscape,” Alexander, Excavations Co-Director said.
As the Glencoe Archaeology Project progresses in the coming years, the team remains dedicated to reviving these lost voices. By conducting ongoing excavations, performing landscape studies, and organizing public engagement events, they aim to illuminate a history that has been largely overshadowed by the events of 1692.
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In June 2025 excavations will resume at the settlement of Achnacon to uncover more of this township’s lost stories.
“These artefacts may be small and unassuming, but they represent the very real human experiences that unfolded here. The archaeology team feel it is our responsibility to ensure these stories are told, and their legacy is not forgotten,” Dr. Stewart said.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer