St Trolla's Chapel, Kintradwell, Sutherland: The occupants of the Medieval burial ground and their patron saint

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Summary The chance discovery of burials at the traditional site of St Trolla's Chapel, Kintradwell, near Brora, led to their rescue excavation and subsequent analysis. The results confirm that this was the site of a chapel in the Medieval period, with radiocarbon dates indicating the use of the burial ground from the earlier 11th to the 16th or 17th centuries. The skeletal remains reveal something of the personal histories of the occupants, with evidence for warfare, hard labour, injury through accident and a possible case of congenital syphilis. The site's association with St Triduana and the concentration of late Iron Age remains and Pictish sculpture in the vicinity together suggest an earlier, Pictish origin for the chapel.