Saint Magnus Church is the only one in Britain that has a dungeon which is referred to as “Marwick’s Hole” although no one knows just exactly who Marwick was. Throughout history the cathedral has had many near misses and partial destruction. Much renovation was necessary after the occupation of it by Oliver Cromwell, when it was used as an army barracks as well as a horse stable in 1951. Lightening wiped out the spire in 1671 as well as much of the interior of the cathedral as well.
There is much debate surrounding the identity of remains that were found in the dungeon. During the cathedral’s renovation in 1919, a box of bones was discovered which contained amongst them, a skull. The skull indicated severe trauma to the head, and it was believed that these were in fact, the remains of Saint Magnus himself. Magnus was deemed a martyr following his murder on Easter in the early 1100′s. The skull was re-examined later by R.W. Reid, a professor from Aberdeen University, and by the Reverend George Walker from the East Parrish Church in Aberdeen.
That examination in 1925, seemed to confirm the identity of the bones as to those of Saint Magnus. Apparently the evidence of the wounds to the skull, were consistent in the history of the death of the Saint. The bones were then returned to the cathedral following the examination, where they continue to draw those interested who travel to the site and stay in one the Kirkwall hotels, hoping to draw some of their own conclusions.
Now days, there is some debate concerning the conclusions of 1925. Don Brothwell is a an anthropologist who specializes in forensic science, who has been studying the case for some time. His conclusion is that the wounds do not in fact match accounts of the murder, and that the earlier version is incorrect. This has struck an emotional chord ever since he published an article in 2004 stating his findings. To this day, those in the village of Kirkwall insist that these are the remains of their beloved Saint.
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