From Scotland to Santiago and back again ...

[SYates]

"One of the key discoveries was the remains of a pilgrim buried around 1300, with a scallop shell from Santiago de Compostela in Spain placed in his mouth.”

Source: http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/isle-of-may-hosts-archaeological-exhibition-1-4444457

BC SY

 

[VNwalking]

Thanks for posting this link, SY. Fascinating.

in his mouth

In his mouth? Wow shades of ancient Greece - payment for the ferry over the River Styx and all that. Weird.

 

[MTtoCamino]

My assumption is the folks who buried him must have heard the story of his pilgrimage often, as the location of the shell makes me smile, something a spouse may do after years of listening.....

 

[Introibo]

"Ya wee belter" as they say in the Neuk of Fife

Just booked a B&B and a boat trip for next Saturday. I'll report back

 

[VNwalking]

My assumption is the folks who buried him must have heard the story of his pilgrimage often, as the location of the shell makes me smile, something a spouse may do after years of listening.....

Hahahaha...That was a possibility I would never have considered. But now you say that, I can see it.
Safe and easy travel to you @Introibo . It'll be interesting to hear how it goes.

 

[Bradypus]

Interesting that our late friend on the Isle of May should be discussed just now. His story was being told here on the forum almost exactly 10 years ago!
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/scallop-shell.3019/#post-15134

Isotope studies of the skeleton concluded that the young man was local to the area, surprisingly well nourished and his bones showed evidence that he led an active if short life. As Dael remarked in 2007 his burial near the altar suggested high status within his community.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...=onepage&q=burial scallop shell mouth&f=false

 

[William Garza]

What a story that pilgim and his shell would make

 

[Sainttam]

A fellow Fifer . I'd never heard this story before, thanks for posting it SYates. There are still (very) short stretches of Pilgrim Trails in Fife that remain from the days when Pilgrims went from Edinburgh to St Andrews.
There is also a "long distance" walk from the West of Scotland to St Andrews being planned. It is scheduled to follow, as closely as possible, the route used by Pilgrims. No idea when it's due to open. Should be good as a practice walk for Pilgrims based in this part of the World before doing their Camino. Lots of days walking in the rain, sleet and snow.

 

[MTtoCamino]

A fellow Fifer . I'd never heard this story before, thanks for posting it SYates. There are still (very) short stretches of Pilgrim Trails in Fife that remain from the days when Pilgrims went from Edinburgh to St Andrews.
There is also a "long distance" walk from the West of Scotland to St Andrews being planned. It is scheduled to follow, as closely as possible, the route used by Pilgrims. No idea when it's due to open. Should be good as a practice walk for Pilgrims based in this part of the World before doing their Camino. Lots of days walking in the rain, sleet and snow.

Please keep us informed when it opens.
Thank you
Keith

 

[freescot]

A fellow Fifer . I'd never heard this story before, thanks for posting it SYates. There are still (very) short stretches of Pilgrim Trails in Fife that remain from the days when Pilgrims went from Edinburgh to St Andrews.
There is also a "long distance" walk from the West of Scotland to St Andrews being planned. It is scheduled to follow, as closely as possible, the route used by Pilgrims. No idea when it's due to open. Should be good as a practice walk for Pilgrims based in this part of the World before doing their Camino. Lots of days walking in the rain, sleet and snow.

http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/

The route from Iona to St. Andrew's has been open for about 3 years.

 

[Sainttam]

http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/

The route from Iona to St. Andrew's has been open for about 3 years.

Some Pilgrim routes being opened soon in Fife. This from Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Fife-Pilgr...zj0_GliZkiGbkRXU9gKDXbTeBR6DAjyyYV8oqdeWq8hUw

 

[Introibo]

As promised, a report on the Isle of May.

We drove up via St Andrews arriving along the back roads which give great views of the cathedral
and St. Rule's tower as the approach to the town is made . It was good to be back in the old town
and to have a wander round the cathedral ruins and St Leonard's chapel. ( Golden days of my
happy youth ). From here it's a short drive down the coast to the fishing town of Anstruther, home
of Scotland's best fish and chip shop. ( Allegedly ).

The short ride over to the Isle of May in the morning was pleasant with warm sunshine and seals
and the odd puffin to look at. The primary purpose of Historical Scotland's Open Door day was to
tour the lighthouses, engine rooms and other sundry buildings. They'd drafted in guides from
various other establishments, none of whom knew much about our pilgrim brother. Up at the
main lighthouse there was a display which showed his remains as they'd been found during
the excavations and a guide gave a few details. I asked where he'd been laid to rest. Probably
a museum was the answer.

We walked down and had a look at St Adrian's chapel. There's not much left of it. It has a beautiful
setting on the west side of the island which, as we're in the north sea, would be the more sheltered
side. Nice in the summer no doubt but desolate during the winter months.

I came away a little disappointed. I'd like to know where my fellow pilgrim is.

Here's a link to a report of the excavations that took place in the 1990s

https://canmore.org.uk/event/585839