This talk, The Lost Royal Lodgings of Edinburgh Castle 1093 – 1617, and the Birthplace of Great Britain, is the culmination of an almost 40-year involvement in investigating the history and archaeology of Edinburgh Castle. Most recently this has been within the context of commissioned research from HES in writing a Statement of Significance for the later Palace in Crown Square.

The ‘Birthplace’ subtext refers to the Royal Lodging subsumed within the 1617 Palace where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth on 19 June 1566 to the future James VI/ I, and with the Union of the Crowns in 1603 styling himself King of Great Britain and Ireland.

Peter Yeoman FSAScot is an archaeologist and cultural historian who has directed major excavations projects, notably at Edinburgh Castle and on the Isle of May, while also writing a number of books, major excavation reports and guide books. He has a special expertise in the archaeology of pilgrimage.

Through the 1990’s he was Council Archaeologist for Fife. Peter then joined Historic Scotland where he was responsible for developing archaeology and research across the estate of properties in care. He led research programmes which underpinned major permanent exhibitions at James V’s Renaissance Palace within Stirling Castle, at Whithorn Priory, St Vigeans Pictish stones, Iona Abbey, and at Edinburgh Castle.

Peter is a specialist archaeology tour guide for Orkney and Shetland with Andante Travels and in Crete with Brightwater Holidays.