A team of researchers in Scotland has unearthed elements that could rewrite the myth of Merlin, suggesting that his death occurred in Drumelziera small village in southern Scotland located along the River Tweed, between the 6th and 7th centuries. The findings, if confirmed, could have a significant impact on the historical understanding of such a legendary figure.
The investigations conducted by archaeologists, which began in 2022 and have only now been revealed, started from a medieval manuscript, “Vita Merlini Sylvestris” (The Life of Merlin of the Forest), held at the British Library. The text recounts Merlin’s life as King Arthur’s faithful advisor, before he was imprisoned and subsequently killed, before being buried on the banks of the River Tweed. It was thanks to a geological investigation in the region, near the ruins of Tinnis Castle, that archaeologists discovered a pit that could resemble a tomb, potentially linked to the figure of Merlin.
Analysis of the site revealed traces of settlements dating back to the period in which, according to legend, Merlin lived. The findings do not definitively prove that the historical figure behind the Merlin myth was real, but they provide clues that suggest how the legend may have more concrete roots than previously believed. In particular, the discovery of a tomb in an area linked to local stories about Merlin is considered a particularly significant coincidence, as explained to the pages of the National by researcher Ronan Toolis, head of the study and CEO of GUARD Archeology in Glasgow:
“Given the presence of numerous hill forts in the region, most of which date back to much older settlements, such as those of the Iron Age, it seems surprising that the only fortification associated with the legend of Merlin is exactly contemporary with the period in which the story takes place. This aspect is particularly significant, considering the rarity of hill forts from the post-Roman period.” The researcher said the myth may have begun as a folk memory, passed down and embellished over the centuries, until it transformed into the complex figure we know today.
The local legends of Drumelzier are in fact rich in pre-Christian customs and ancient names of Cumbrian origin, which have been associated with the sites examined by archaeologists. Toolis explained how archeology is demonstrating how these places can have a credible connection with the birth of the myth of Merlin, closely linked to this specific geographical area.
The historical context of the legend paints a very different picture than the wise and revered figure that has been passed down to us over the centuries. The recent discovery suggests that Merlin may have been a much darker and more tragic character, far from the mythical figure we all know. Rather than a wise sorcerer advisor to the king, Merlin may have been a tormented man, prone to cryptic utterances and enigmatic prophecies, imprisoned by a shadowy local ruler. His life conditions, according to this new perspective, may have been those of a marginalized prisoner, victim of power games and political intrigues, until the epilogue, which occurred due to a violent death.
The new details emerge after two years of intensive studies of the region, and the results were recently published on Archeology Reports Onlineoffering a deeper insight into one of the most enigmatic figures of the Middle Ages. The researchers’ objective is not so much to demonstrate that the legend of Merlin is based on concrete historical facts, but rather to clarify how stories passed down orally may have more real origins than you think.
Tinnis Castle and its ruins are central parts of the narrative. In the past, this area was considered a center of local power and its history may have been mixed with legends, becoming the tale of Merlin we know today. If the discovered grave really represented Merlin’s tomb, we would be faced with one of the most significant discoveries in the history of medieval legends.
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