Skeleton under primary school in Edinburgh could have been a pirate

Remains found buried under playground near former execution site could be those of a man hanged for piracy in the 16th or 17th century, experts believe

A skeleton discovered under a primary school playground could be that of a 16th-century pirate, archaeologists have said. The remains of a man were uncovered by council workers during survey work for an extension at Victoria primary school in Edinburgh last year.

Experts at AOC Archaeology carbon-dated the bones to the 16th or 17th century and, working with forensic artist Hayley Fisher, created a facial reconstruction of the man, thought to have been in his 50s.