The Arthurs Seat Coffins

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In this weeks episode, we tell the story of the Arthurs Seat Coffins, 17 tiny 4" coffins, each holding a wooden doll complete with handmade clothing, uncovered from the Arthurs Seat area of Edinburgh in 1836. To this day, no one has any explanations for what they were for, or who put them there.
Thanks for watching! Contact me and feel free to drop comments, episode suggestions or anything else in the comments.

[@curiouscuriouser2670]

Good on you. Thoroughly researched, well documented, clearly narrated AND "hanged" not "hung". Congratulations. 👍😊👋🇦🇺

[@Tom_Bee_]

What a fascinating and well written and narrated channel I've stumbled across here. Brilliant work, Dark Histories, and a new subscriber you have in me.

[@best-bullysscotland1016]

I'm going to walk my dogs up Arthur seat tomorrow as ai do nearly every day. Now I have something to keep my eyes open for.

[@matadorx3720]

Love your audio/ videos. Thanks

[@DarkHistories]

Thanks so much and you're welcome!

[@tishahouse846]

listening from the ukwales 2021❤️

[@pyewackett5]

They are wonderful things. Wish I had found them !!

[@amberservold2187]

Never heard of these! Thanks for posting!

[@DarkHistories]

Freaky little things right? I still haven't settled on what I think they are...

[@amberservold2187]

@@DarkHistories they are rather freaky, even more so now that i've seen some pictures of them.....I no longer have to use my imagination to see them.....unlike you my friend.....any chance that might change?

[@steff.7028]

Love your videos!

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

Thanks for this - never heard of this before.

[@shadegreen5351]

i like to think it was some kids with access to their father's carpentery shop that were playing undertaker

[@d.i.ywithmegananderson9502]

I live near aurthur seat !

[@best-bullysscotland1016]

Me too going to walk my dogs up there tomorrow

[@brandonp3455]

Regarding why all of the dolls are male if they’re meant to represent those denied a Christian burial because of the two murderers, you kinda answer your own question by previously saying they were likely originally something akin to toy soldiers - they’re all male because they’ve been repurposed. They just happened to be the only dolls around at the time.
That said, my own headcanon is that the dolls were repurposed from toy soldiers and given mock burials to represent local boys that went off to fight in any number of Britain’s many foreign wars at the time and never returned. Perhaps the maker lost their son and - being aware of the old wives tale about the sailors being buried in effigy - made or used the doll, made the coffin, and placed it there to ease their worry and grief. Later feeling sorry for other families around that lost their boys, the maker decided either surreptitiously or with their knowledge to give funerals for their boys, too - enlisting the help of another person to make more of the coffins.
This was a small gesture of kindness and closure, and nobody stepped forward because the few people aware of it were older and dead by the time it was discovered.