DURHAM University is launching a free online course to give people across the world the chance to learn about one of its most captivating research projects, relating to the fate of the prisoners from the Battle of Dunbar in 1650.

The Scottish Soldiers Archaeology Project, which identified human remains found in Durham City in 2013 as those of soldiers captured at the battle and held prisoner in Durham, has been a source of fascination and intrigue for the last six years.

Now Durham University has developed an open online course, giving people the chance to study the project in more depth.

The six-week course was developed in partnership with FutureLearn, a leading social learning platform, and will open on April 29, although learners can start at any time up to July 21.

Using a range of content including videos, sound files, music and animated film, the course will guide learners through the discovery of the soldiers’ remains and the research that enabled our experts to identify them as those of the Scottish soldiers.

The course will also explore the history and archaeology surrounding the soldiers imprisoned in Durham, including those who survived imprisonment and were transported to the North American colonies and the Caribbean as indentured servants.

The ethical considerations of archaeological work on human remains will also be studied, together with how the project team embraced new ways of sharing their work, such as exhibitions and even a theatre production.

The course is designed to appeal to those interested in history, archaeology, genealogy and the latest applications of scientific research. It includes findings from a range of collaborative work lead by Durham University, including work done in partnership with Bradford, Liverpool John Moores and York universities.

Professor David Cowling, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities, Durham University, said: “We are hugely excited to be able to share one of our most captivating research projects with people across the world.

“The Scottish Soldiers Project has solved a near 400-year mystery about where the remains of these soldiers were buried, and brought history to life for the thousands of people who have been so intrigued by the research findings.

“Now we are opening up a new way for people to enjoy and benefit from the fascinating findings of our research, through a modern, digital way of learning.”

The course, entitled Archaeology and the Battle of Dunbar 1650: From the Scottish Battlefield to the New World, will open on 29 April 2019 and learners can enrol any time up to 21 July 2019. The course will also be repeated later in the year.

The course is free to take and learners can choose whether to pay to receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

To enrol in the course visit futurelearn.com/courses