THE archaeological team who discovered, excavated and analysed the remains of medieval soldiers in a mass grave near Durham Cathedral have travelled to Scotland discuss the fate of the skeletons.

The event at the Dunmuir Hotel, in Dunbar, yesterday (Monday, November 30) was attended by a wide range of people, including representatives from East Lothian Council, Dunbar Community Council, the local history society and The Sealed Knot.

The Durham University team announced in September this year that the skeletons found in a mass grave in Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site were the remains of Scottish soldiers who fought at the 1650 Battle of Dunbar.

Yesterday's event was held to gather a range of views on what happens next to the soldiers’ remains, covering further research, reburial and commemoration.

The Durham University team, joined by Canon Rosalind Brown of Durham Cathedral, presented their research findings, and a lively question, answer and feedback followed.

Professor Chris Gerrard, Head of the Department of Archaeology, Durham University, said: “We received a wonderful welcome and we appreciated being able to hear, at first hand, the views of a range of people on the next steps for the Scottish soldiers.”

The University team also held meetings with organisations and individuals with a special interest in the project. They will consider all views before making their decisions in 2016.

A mass grave of between 17 and 28 individuals were discovered by Durham University archaeologists in November 2013 at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City, England.

A team from the University’s Department of Archaeology carried out extensive analysis to identify the remains, concluding they were Scottish Soldiers who fought in the 1650 Battle of Dunbar, one of the most brutal, bloody and short battles of the 17th Century civil wars.

Around 1,700 Scottish soldiers died of malnutrition, disease and cold after being marched over 100 miles to Durham and imprisoned in its Cathedral and Castle.