[MR] History Blog: Stone Cannon/Trebuchet Ball Found in Edinburgh

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots:

Today the History Blog is offering a story about a stone ball found during
excavations at the Grassmarket area below Edinburgh Castle:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/53811 .

The ball may have been used as early as 1296 when Edward I put Edinburgh
Castle under siege. If so, it was probably trebuchet ammunition, though
there is no way to tell which direction the ball flew, or if it was
actually used at all. It could also date to a later siege, as the castle
has been attacked several times over the years. In any case, it is a
fascinating artifact.

Such stone balls were also shot by early "gunnes". A pile of such
ammunition is displayed beside the famous 15th century siege cannon Mons
Meg, on show at Edinburgh Castle.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆