Meet the only known trebuchet casualty in history

Live updates

1. 27d ago

   Archaeologists identify first confirmed trebuchet victim at Stirling Castle

   Researchers have identified a medieval skeleton found beneath Stirling Castle in Scotland as the first confirmed casualty of a trebuchet. The remains, designated Skeleton 150, exhibit over 160 fractures, with some reports specifying exactly 167 fractures. The extent of the pulverization led one archaeologist to compare the injuries to those seen in modern car crash victims. The findings suggest the individual was killed by a massive siege engine during a medieval conflict.

   Why it matters

   Trebuchets were giant catapults used in medieval siege warfare to launch heavy projectiles. This discovery provides rare physical evidence of the lethal impact these weapons had on individual soldiers. The site at Stirling Castle serves as a critical point of study for medieval military casualties.

   What is confirmed

   • A medieval skeleton discovered beneath Stirling Castle in Scotland has more than 160 fractures.
   • Researchers identify the remains as the first confirmed death caused by a trebuchet.
   • The remains are referred to as Skeleton 150.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The victim may have been killed by Edward I's War Wolf trebuchet.
   • The skeleton is 700 years old.
   • The skeleton has exactly 167 fractures.

   What to watch next

   • Further forensic analysis to confirm the exact age of the remains.
   • Cross-referencing the find with historical records of the War Wolf's deployment.
   Sources used for this update (12)

   1. Live Science — Skeleton with 167 fractures discovered at Scottish castle may have been first victim of Edward I's 'War Wolf' trebuchet
   2. Yahoo — Skeleton with 167 fractures discovered at Scottish castle may have been first victim of Edward I's 'War Wol...
   3. Ars Technica — Meet the only known trebuchet casualty in history
   4. Gizmodo — This Medieval Skeleton Had 160 Broken Bones, and Scientists Just Figured Out What Hit Him
   5. Smithsonian Magazine — A Medieval Man's Injuries Reminded One Archaeologist of Modern-Day Car Crash Victims. They Turned Out to Be the Work of an English Trebuchet
   6. The Times of India — A skeleton found beneath Scotland's Stirling Castle had more than 160 fractures; researchers say it is the first confirmed death from a trebuchet
   7. Newser — 'Skeleton 150' Is First Confirmed Trebuchet Victim
   8. GIGAZINE — The medieval remains, with over 160 places of pulverization throughout their bodies, were the victims of a giant catapult known as a 'trebuchet.'
   9. All That's Interesting — This Medieval Skeleton Was Discovered With 167 Fractures At A Scottish Castle. Now, Researchers Believe He Was The First Victim Of Edward I’s ‘Warwolf’ Trebuchet
   10. ZME Science — A Medieval Skeleton Was Shattered in 167 Places. He May Be The First Documented Trebuchet Victim
   11. The Independent — Shattered 700-year-old skeleton could be earliest-known victim of siege weapon
   12. Yahoo — Shattered 700-year-old skeleton could be earliest-known victim of popular siege weapon
   confidence 90%