Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano towering over Edinburgh’s landscape at just 250 meters above sea level, is renowned not only for its geology and stunning views but also for a discovery as curious as it is enigmatic: a series of small coffins with miniature figures that, nearly 200 years after their fortuitous discovery, remain shrouded in mystery.

Known in Gaelic as Suidhe Artair, it is the highest peak in the cluster of hills that form Holyrood Park, located about one kilometer east of Edinburgh Castle. Formed over 300 million years ago by volcanic activity, it has been shaped by glaciers and the passage of time.

At its summit, remnants of ancient forts testify to the occupation of tribes like the Votadini during the Iron Age. Later, it became the setting for historical events, from royal celebrations to symbolic religious acts. Its prominence has also made it a place of myths, ranging from tales about King Arthur (it is one of the sites said to have been Camelot) to legends of medieval miracles.

Coffins Arthur's Seat
Edinburgh and the Arthur’s Seat volcano in the background, the site of the find. Credit: Herbert Frank / Wikimedia Commons

It was the summer of 1836 when a group of boys decided to explore the northeastern slopes of Arthur’s Seat in search of rabbits. During their hunt, they stumbled upon a small cave hidden behind slate slabs. Inside, carefully arranged in three tiers, were 17 tiny coffins, each containing a wooden figure.

These coffins, measuring just 10 centimeters in length, were decorated with carefully sewn fabrics, and the figures appeared to have been crafted by a meticulous artisan. The boys, not understanding the significance of their find, destroyed some of the coffins, leaving only eight of the original 17 intact. Today, these eight are on display at the National Museum of Scotland.

Since their discovery, the coffins have inspired countless theories. At the time, some suggested they were witchcraft or sorcery artifacts. Local newspapers described the discovery as “a workshop of satanic spells,” and some even linked the coffins to black magic practices.

Coffins Arthur's Seat
Detail of two of the coffins found in 1836. Credit: National Museums Scotland

Others interpreted the find as a symbolic funerary tradition. Some believed the coffins represented “honorary burials” for people who had died far from their homeland. Another theory proposed that the coffins were connected to maritime superstitions, similar to German traditions that used miniature figures as protective charms.

One of the most intriguing theories ties the coffins to the infamous murders of Burke and Hare, two men who killed 16 people in 1828 to sell their bodies to anatomists in Edinburgh. According to this hypothesis, the coffins might have been a symbolic tribute to the victims, although discrepancies exist regarding the gender of the figures (all male) versus the victims, who were mostly women.

Modern analysis has revealed fascinating details. The figures appear to have been crafted from toys, possibly wooden soldiers, and the fabric covering them dates to the 1830s. This suggests the coffins had not been buried long before their discovery.

Despite these advances, the purpose of the coffins remains a mystery. Were they created as a tribute to the dead, as ritual objects, or perhaps as toys transformed into something with symbolic meaning?

This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on January 8, 2025: El Misterio de los Ataúdes en Miniatura encontrados en 1836 en un volcán extinto en Escocia

SOURCES

National Museums Scotland, An unsolved mystery: the coffins found on Arthur’s Seat

S.P. Menefee, A.D.C Simpson, The West Port Murders and the Miniature Coffins From Arthur’s Seat in The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, New Series vol.3, Edinburgh 1994, pp.63–81

Wikipedia, Arthur’s Seat

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