Archaeology Notes

Event ID 706000

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/706000

NS89SW 11 centred 815 917

(NS 816 918) Site of (NAT)

Battle of Bannockburn (NR)

24th June 1314 (NAT)

OS 6" map (1967).

For Bannockburn Heritage Centre (NS 79766 90550: including Rotunda and Statue of Robert the Bruce), see NS79SE 15.00.

The Battle of Bannockburn, decisive battle in the Scottish Wars of Independence, was fought between Robert I and Edward II on June 23rd and 24th 1314, resulting in the defeat of the English army. Doubt has existed as to the exact site of the battle but recent research has narrowed the choice of sites to two adjacent areas - the Carse of Balquhiderock (area centred NS 815 917) proposed by Christison, and Dryfield of Balquhiderock (area centred NS 807 909) suggested by Barrow. Barrow's site might be favoured on the strength of the argument that Edward II could not have committed his heavy cavalry on marshy carse-land, but there is no conclusive proof either way. (See NS79SE 15 - Bore Stone).

P Christison 1959; G W S Barrow 1965

Brander gives a description of the battle, and his plan agrees with Barrow.

M Brander 1975

This battlefield was included in a nation-wide study of key battle sites. A detailed gazetteer was created by The Battlefield Trust, which includes an historical overview of each site, detailed assessments of the action and its location and the number of troops involved, casualties, sources of information and an interpretation of the events and its impact on history. For more detail see the gazetteer and associated materials - MS 2522.

The site of this key battle is hotly disputed by historians, with around 5 different locations suggested. The key area where the English army was largely destroyed was the large ditch of Bannockburn, where the fleeing English army was routed, with many drowning in the water.

G Foard and T Partida 2005.