Scientists examine centuries-old skull tied to Highland clan legend

According to an 1857 letter, the skull was the remains of a Clan Comyn leader killed during a violent clash involving the Grants and MacGregors at what is now Castle Grant in Strathspey. The relic vanished from public view after the castle was sold in 1983, only to be found by Lord Reidhaven in a family storeroom inside a Harrods box, alongside the historic letter. He gave the skull and letter to Dan Cottam, curator of Grantown Museum, prompting a forensic investigation.

The museum’s “Legend of the Highland Skull” project combines research, a four-part podcast, an animated short and an exhibition running until the end of October 2026. Osteologists, led by Cat Irving, have noted that the skull was cut across the forehead and fitted with a hinge and hook, turning part of it into a container. The team will assess the bone’s sex, age, possible trauma and overall dating to see if it matches the story, while also exploring how such legends persist over centuries.