The remains were found on Crow Hill near Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, a rise within Holyrood Park that overlooks Duddingston Loch and the Firth of Forth.<\/p>\n
Park rangers uncovered the bones during a routine patrol after a wildfire burned<\/a> part of the park in August, according to Historic Environment Scotland (HES).<\/p>\n SHOPPERS AT POPULAR MARKETPLACE WALKED OVER ‘VILE’ DUNGEON AS ARCHAEOLOGISTS CITE ‘REMARKABLE’ FINDS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation. Though the collection was found over the summer, officials did not disclose the discovery until November.\u00a0<\/p>\n Once alerted, archaeologists quickly arrived<\/a> to assess and remove the cache.\u00a0<\/p>\n The collection of mixed remains was found near Arthur’s Seat, prompting a formal review by archaeologists. (Peter Summers\/Getty Images; Historic Environment Scotland)<\/p>\n The curious collection of bones consists of several species, according to the HES, including “cattle, horse, sheep or goat and possibly even cat.”<\/p>\n The HES added, “The remains do not seem to have been part of a wider feature. However, the number and variety of bones make it an unusual \u2014 and potentially significant \u2014 discovery.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n An HES official told Fox News Digital the bones are likely post-medieval, but no age has been determined yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It is likely this area was used for grazing<\/a>, as much of the land in Holyrood Park was grazed in the past,” an HES spokesperson said.<\/p>\n “The number and variety of bones make it an unusual \u2014 and potentially significant \u2014 discovery.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n “However, the bones belong to various species of animal<\/a> and are not complete skeletons, so there is no obvious or direct link to sheep grazing.”<\/p>\n Specialists plan to radiocarbon date the bones, which they hope will shed light on how old they are and why they were dumped.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The HES also noted that Crow Hill is near a prehistoric hill fort that once surrounded the summits of both Crow Hill and Arthur’s Seat.<\/p>\n Park rangers discovered an unusual assortment of animal bones on Crow Hill after an August wildfire exposed them. (Historic Environment Scotland)<\/p>\n The spokesperson added that Holyrood Park is a “hugely rich archaeological landscape” \u2014 with much more of its history still to be uncovered.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “We are continually learning about its past and the nature of what survives here,” the official added.<\/p>\n The bone collection adds to a number of eyebrow-raising archaeological discoveries<\/a> in Scotland over the past year.<\/p>\n The cause of the Aug. 10 wildfire is still under investigation, authorities said. (Peter Summers\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Over the summer, an archaeology student found a finely carved ancient head,<\/a> featuring an eerie smile, during a dig on a Scottish farm.<\/p>\n![\"Split](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/arthurs-seat-edinburgh-scotland-fire-mysterious-bones-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg\")
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