Mystery of ‘unicorn' skull unearthed at King Arthur's castle deepens as new detail emerges
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A FADED signature has been found on the bone of a 'unicorn' skull found at King Arthur's castle.
It is thought the extraordinary object was expertly fabricated and buried near Tintagel in Cornwall by a prankster.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
The 'unicorn' skull is now in a pub near Stonehenge, Wilts, after being left there by Canadian tourist John Goodwin
Credit: ANDREW LLOYD
3
Sun man Alex with the 'unicorn skull'
Credit: ANDREW LLOYD
It is impossible to make out the scrawl which appears to be a signature but possibly reads 'Harald'.
The skull is now in a pub near Stonehenge, Wilts, after being left there by Canadian tourist John Goodwin, 46, who found it last Sunday.
It appears a talented craftsman has stuck the tusk in the middle of a donkey or horse's head to make the forgery.
The area where it was found near St Nectan's Glen is known as one of the Duchy's most spiritual sites.
Occultists have been known to go there to make offerings and carry out rituals, suggesting the skull may have been used for a ceremony.
Amazon worker Timothy Painter, 56, from Durrington near Stonehenge, was at the pub when it was brought in.
He said: 'I was amazed, it was real bone, the skull was fusing up to the horn and it had wobbly teeth.
'It would be a hard thing to hoax.
'I was looking at it being sceptical but I couldn't see anything that was fabricated.
'It's mysterious and magical and an anomaly.'
Massive 250kg dinosaur SKULL dubbed 'Big Sam' unearthed by palaeontologists after 72million years in bone-filled creek
Boffins at the Natural History Museum said they were unable to provide any comment on the item.
A team of zooarchaeologists from Historic England have also been consulted.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Tower of London mystery as archaeologists unearth 50 human bodies from ‘rushed' burials in ‘biggest dig' in 4 decades
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered the remains of up to 50 people in the Tower of London. Historians believe that many of bodies were likely to be those of victims of the Black Death. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The remains of 50 people have been uncovered as part of an excavation dig at the Tower of London (stock image) Credit: Getty Built in the 11th century, the Tower of London is widely regarded as one of Britain's most iconic landmarks. Originally the formidable fortress of William the Conqueror, the location has a nearly thousand-year history. Over the centuries, it has served as a royal palace, a prison, an armoury, a treasury, and even a zoo. A major excavation project is currently underway near the Chapel Royal of St. Peter and Vincula, a corner of the grounds near the White Tower. The dig is part of preparatory works to install a lift to improve accessibility to the chapel. However, during the dig on the oldest part of the complex, a major discovery was made behind an unsuspecting plywood door. The project, which is the biggest excavation done at the castle in 40 years, uncovered dozens of bodies within the foundations laid down over many centuries. Up to 50 bodies uncovered Historians believe the bones belong to ordinary people who lived and worked at the Tower, rather than the Lords and Ladies who once inhabited it. Alfred Hawkins, curator of historic buildings at Historic Royal Palaces, described the project as "hugely important". 'At the palace we have evidence for what Henry VIII did and what Edward I did — but what we don't know about is people who were living, working, worshipping, and dying at the Tower," he told The Times. 'Once in a century' Pompeii discovery as ancient luxury SPA is saved from ashes with thermal baths & stunning mosaic The site is also the final resting place of famous figures throughout British history, including Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, and Catherine Howard, all of whom were executed on Henry VIII's orders. Recent excavation works have explored some three and a half metres underground, revealing parts of the castle that date to the 12th century and the Tower's beginnings. 'It is literally a generational opportunity. Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) have never done an excavation like this and we won't do it again,' Hawkins added. He clarified that the HRP was running the dig with Pre-Construct Archaeology, an independent firm, with advice from Historic England. A test dig was carried out six years ago, uncovering two bodies but now there are said to be at least 25 burials in the area running the width of the chapel. Now, the remains of as many as 50 people are believed to have been uncovered. Despite the Tower's infamous history with brutal deaths, including the beheadings of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey, it appears these bodies did not have a violent end. 3 Historians have suggested that the bodies may be those of early victims of the Black Death Credit: HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES/PRE CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY Victims of the Black Plague Historians believe that some of the bodies may have been early victims of the plague. They cited how the burials appear to have been 'rushed' and estimate they date from the 14th century. This would mean the burials occurred before Edward III implemented strict rules regarding the handling of the plague dead. DNA testing will show if they died from the Black Death, which reached London in 1348. Caused by the bubonic plague, the was spread by fleas carried by rats and had a devastating impact on the city. Within months, the Black Death killed up to half of London's population. Graveyards were overwhelmed and basic city services collapsed as a result. 3 Assistant Curator Alfred Hawkins described the discovery as a 'generational opportunity' Credit: Historic Royal Palaces Other bodies unearthed in the dig appear to have been treated more carefully, with one of the discoveries including grave goods in the form of jars akin to incense burners. These were filled with charcoal, which was a custom derived from Norman Europe. According to experts, this may indicate a member of the ruling class or a foreign traveller. Two Tudor bodies were uncovered in the vicinity in 2019, including a woman, aged between 35 and 50, whose burial in a coffin suggested high status. This theory has been backed by isotopic analysis that suggests she had a good diet. Her remains were found alongside those of a boy of about 13, who appears to have been born outside London and was unwell. Archaeologists have also discovered stained and painted glass, sewing needles, a pendant, a ring, and four cannon balls at the site. More on archaeology The remains of a lost Roman city have been uncovered on a popular holiday island. And the lost tomb of a 1,700-year-old king was uncovered in Mayan temple. Plus, the eerie "hybrid" skull that belonged to a "half human, half neanderthal girl". An ancient lost city from 3,500-years-ago that played home to the oldest civilization in the Americas' was uncovered in Peru. And AI has deciphered a hymn on a 4,000-year-old clay tablet, which is said unlock the mystery of the ancient city of Babylon.
Times
8 hours ago
- Times
Which home would you buy for £625,000? Vote for your favourite
In the pretty village of Burnham Market is this Victorian period cottage. The ground floor, which was once the village bike shop, is now a 22ft x 14ft family room complete with a fireplace and links to a study. Across from the family room is the kitchen and WC. There are three bedrooms on the first floor, one of which has two toilets, and a separate bathroom. There is also one outbuilding, which is presently used as a workshop. Burnham Market has art galleries, boutiques, delis and a farm shop. EPC E (potential B) — on a scale of A (best) to G (worst)Upside Surrounded by activities and entertainment. Downside Terraced houses can be £625,000Contact Walking distance from the centre of Stroud, this handsome four-storey semi offers 2,329 sq ft of living space and is full of period charm: think thick oak floorboards and an original stone fireplace. The ground floor comprises two reception rooms and a kitchen/dining room that flows into an oak-framed conservatory. There's a 279 sq ft cellar plus six bedrooms arranged over the first and second floors. There's no garage but there is space to park at the front of the property as well as a low-maintenance lawned garden, which backs on to playing fields. It's on the market chain-free. EPC D (potential C)Upside In the catchment for two Parent Power ranked It's on an £625,000Contact Oakholme is a grade II listed semi-detached cottage described in its Historic England entry as having a 'timber-frame exposed on north gable and front … where projecting wall suggests former jetty'. The three-bedroom house is in North Warnborough, a small village on the northern fringes of Hampshire's chalk downs, about eight miles east of Basingstoke (from where trains to London Waterloo take about 40 minutes). The hallway leads to a living room with built-in storage, a kitchen/diner with French doors opening on to the garden and a shower room. Upstairs are three bedrooms, one of which has an en suite bathroom complete with a roll-top bath. EPC N/AUpside There's a separate garage to the The upstairs bathroom situation is not ideal. Price £625,000Contact Tucked away on a back lane in the tiny city of St Davids, this five-bedroom home looks out over the cathedral and miles of greenery. Through the wooden front doors is a corridor with beamed ceilings and the lounge and reception area on either side. The kitchen has an archway leading to a dining room, plus useful storage areas and a utility room. French doors open on to a rear garden set over two levels with panoramic views of the city. One of the bedrooms has an en suite bathroom and there is a separate shower room. EPC D (potential B)Upside A stunning location. Downside Interiors could do with some £625,000Contact The Highland town of Strathpeffer exploded into life in the Victorian era, when sulphurous springs made it a popular spa resort, and a new railway station connected it to the national network. Eaglestone, a B listed five-bedroom house, built in the mid-1800s, was one of the results. With its symmetrical three-bay frontage and continuous open-fronted veranda, supported by cast-iron columns, it has a striking design. The symmetrical reception rooms on the ground floor, and two large bedrooms above them, all have one elegantly curving wall with original cornicing. Inverness is about 40 minutes away by car. EPC E (potential C)Upside Former coach house has conversion Local railway station long since out of Offers over £625,000Contact An example of Scottish Arts and Crafts architecture at its finest, this six-bedroom villa is tucked away in a quiet leafy corner of the Craigie residential area of Dundee. Built in 1911 its three-storey design, rising to a sharply pitched roof, is one of a kind. A cleverly configured porch and bay-windowed living room gaze down the long south-facing lawn. The house retains much of its original painted decorative woodwork — a key feature of many Arts and Crafts homes. The one-acre plot is shrouded from view from the street and neighbouring properties by tall mature trees and has a large timber garage. EPC E (potential C)Upside Dundee and Broughty Ferry are less than a ten-minute drive The neighbourhood is not the Offers over £619,000Contact Here are 36 glorious acres of potential — minus the house, fences, neighbours and, conveniently, that pesky mortgage. This mixed mature woodland between Handcross and Lower Beeding, near Horsham, offers sweeping skies, an array of trees ranging from oaks, beech, larch, pine and horse chestnut, and is flooded with bluebells in the spring. One notable feature is a Second World War bunker on its northern border. EPC N/AUpside Great view of the Roof a little leakyPrice £625,000Contact
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Canadian living in Scotland questions how UK is a 'developed country' over 'disgusting British habit'
A Canadian living in the UK has said he is disgusted by a common British habit that has led him to question Britain's status as a 'developed country'. Taking to Reddit, the disgruntled expat detailed how he had moved to Glasgow from Canada, and now calls the Scottish city 'home'. But despite his love for the area, he said there is one 'absolutely shocking' aspect of British life which he finds disgusting. He wrote: 'Okay, I am a Canadian who has made Glasgow home. 'It's absolutely shocking for me the amount of litter I see here, considering this is supposed to be a developed country. 'Also, there is so much broken glass that I can only imagine what dog owners go through while doing something as simple as walking their dog. 'And this is not a city issue, I have gone walking on remote trails where I see litter - so it's not really a wind issue, it's a people issue. 'You cannot hire enough people to clean the streets if people think it's okay to litter. 'I have been on the road and seen people in front of me driving, rolling down their windows and dropping their litter on the road in broad daylight. Just why?' The post quickly gained traction and racked up hundreds of comments. The majority of responders were similarly fed up, with many placing the blame on locals who believe litter-picking is the responsibility of the council. One person wrote: 'A lot of people here think it's purely the council's responsibility to clean up after them.' Another said: 'There used to be a guy here that would arrange litter picks. 'Last time I heard he'd stopped after seeing the places they'd just spent days cleaning in the same state as before.' A third echoed the sentiment, saying: 'It's depressing if you pick up litter, you go to the same spot the next day and it's just filled up again.' Other Glasgow locals said they had been using the local council app to raise the alarm about particularly dirty areas, to no avail. One said: 'I've been using the GCC app to report littering at an underpass near me, every time they've come along and cleaned it within 24-48 hours and, right after, it's a mess again. 'No wonder the council has given up as well.' Of the avid litter-pickers taking an interest in their community, many reported they had simply given up after feeling they were fighting a losing battle. 'It's pretty demoralising, I still do my one area but mostly because I go there frequently and I don't want people to think I'm the one doing the littering. But people just dump their s**t and it's so depressing.' Other responders offered their own tales of woe, from areas in Glasgow and beyond - with a San Francisco native telling how his city hadn't done enough to prevent illegal dumping. 'I also think that when people see the council - the very ones responsible for collecting, transporting and disposing of litter - doing a half-hearted job, it sets a poor example for everyone else,' one commenter wrote. 'It sends the message that if they don't care, why should anyone else?' Commenters pointed to the fact that community clean-ups, led and carried out by volunteers, do exist - both within Glasgow and other areas. And for those who blamed the litter on certain demographics, one wrote: 'It's not just "neds" and "junkies". There are far too many people who have zero respect for where they live and for others without having substance abuse or behavioural problems.' Others stressed the point that looking after local spaces is a 'mindset' issue, with many believing they are entitled to leave rubbish. 'This is a "throw away" mindset where people think it's somebody else's problem to clean up, one commenter said. 'It also taps into the myths people tell themselves about the amount of rubbish they produce - "but it's okay because I recycle". 'I went to work the other day in a hurry, plastic litter outside my close door, arrived back from work, people are in and out all day, still there - I put it in the bin.' The UK is generally considered to have a littering problem when compared to other European countries. It hasn't yet affected our status as a developed country, but whether it goes on to influence tourism or living costs remains to be seen.
