'Lost stories' from Massacre of Glencoe unearthed during University of Glasgow archaeological dig

A team of archaeologists and students believe they have unearthed new stories about the Massacre of Glencoe.

The researchers from the University of Glasgow, along with volunteers, have spent a second year digging in the famous valley.

Through archaeological excavations at the abandoned township of Arhnacon, they have uncovered a wealth of artefacts that provide a rare glimpse into everyday life in 17th century Glencoe.

These include French and German pottery, decorated knife handles, weaving loom weights, shoe buckles, and broken tobacco pipes.

An estimated 38 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed on February 13 1692, including Clan Chief Alasdair Ruadh ‘MacIain’ MacDonald and his wife.

On the night of the massacre, the MacDonalds of Glencoe Clan Chief’s cousin – the tacksman of Achnacon or MacDonald of Achnacon – was hosting a party with guests including his brother MacDonald of Achtriochtan.

They drank and gambled into the early hours until the party was interrupted at 5am, as a volley of musket ball shots from government troops tore through the windows and doors, killing many inside.

The recent archaeological excavations uncovered MacDonald of Achnacon’s turf-walled house, and among the finds was a scatter of 17th century bronze coins, potentially the proceeds of the fateful night’s gambling, lost as the massacre began.

MacDonald of Achnacon, unlike his brother, survived the attack and was taken outside to be shot by the government soldiers.

However, as they prepared to fire, he tore off his plaid cloak, threw it over his attackers, and fled into the winter morning darkness.

A clothespin was found, which could play a key part in the story of the massacre. Michael Given

While excavating just outside this house structure, two volunteers on the 2024 dig found a bent plaid pin and two pieces of lead musket balls, which the team believe could be the traces of MacDonald of Achnacon’s escape.

Dr Edward Stewart, excavations co-director, who has just finished his PhD at the University of Glasgow, says that these humble artefacts provide a poignant glimpse into the human stories behind these grand historical events.

He explained: “By exploring these dwellings and the archaeology of Glencoe, we are able to build a richer understanding, not only of the tragic events of the 1692 Massacre but also the everyday lives of those who lived and worked in Glencoe in the 17th and 18th centuries.

“Recent discoveries – both in Achnacon this year and the Summerhouse of MacIain in 2023 – allow us to connect with the people who once called this glen ‘home’ in a profoundly personal way.

“We’re not just uncovering the grand events of history, but the individual human stories that were so painfully disrupted.

“These help to give intimate insights into the lives and livelihoods, diets, beliefs and experiences of those who lived in this landscape over 300 years ago.”

Alongside the relics found within the ruins of a 17th century dwelling, the team’s landscape surveys have helped to paint a picture of the deep, generations-long relationship between the inhabitants of Achnacon and their environment.

This connection to the land only heightens the devastating impact the massacre and subsequent clearances would have had on the local community, say the archaeology team.

Professor Michael Given, Prpofessor of landscape archaeology and co-director of the University of Glasgow’s archaeological project in Glencoe, said: “It’s abundantly clear that the people of Achnacon were totally dependent on this land.

“Understanding that relationship allows us to empathise more fully with the trauma they endured when their world was so violently upended.”

Pottery was found during the dig from as far away as France and Germany. Derek Alexander

According to Derek Alexander, head of archaeology at the National Trust for Scotland, the remains of the 17th and 18th century townships in Glencoe are often subtle, with materials potentially recycled for later buildings, dykes and sheepfolds.

Mr Alexander, excavations co-director, added: “The better-preserved historic sites lie further into the glen away from the modern village at the lochside.

“Achnacon township displays the remains of four or five buildings, a kailyard or small kitchen garden and traces of rig cultivation.

“It lies within sight of the replica turf house constructed a few years ago at the National Trust for Scotland visitor centre and can be reached along the length of a newly-built walking and cycle track, the Glencoe Greenway.

“Step by step, we are gaining a better understanding of where and how people lived in the Glen, and we are enabling visitors today to engage in new ways with the landscape.”

As the Glencoe Archaeology Project continues its work in the years ahead, the team is committed to bringing these lost voices back to life.

Through ongoing excavations, landscape studies, and public engagement events, they hope to shed new light on a history that has long been overshadowed by the events of 1692.

Dr Stewart said: “These artefacts may be small and unassuming, but they represent the very real human experiences that unfolded here.

“The archaeology team feel it is our responsibility to ensure these stories are told, and their legacy is not forgotten.”

Excavations will resume at the settlement of Achnacon in June 2025 to uncover more of this township’s lost stories.