Ancient Scottish Clan Seal found in Castle Ruins

A team of archaeologists working at Dunyvaig Castle on the Isle of Islay made a remarkable discovery – a 425-year-old lead seal bearing the name Sir John Campbell of Cawdor. The artifact, which was used to sign and seal legal documents, is dated 1593 and bears the initials DM.

The circular disc was found buried below mounds of rubble from a collapsed defensive wall and carries the inscription IOANNIS CAMPBELL DE CALDER, which was the original spelling of Cawdor, and also carries the Cawdor coat of arms with a galley-ship and a stag. It is believed to have belonged to Cawdor, who lived between 1576 and 1642, and occupied the castle in 1615.

The Campbell and MacDonald clans fought over Dunyvaig in the early 17th century, with a series of sieges and bombardments of the castle until the Campbells finally won. This new discovery provides insight into the Campbell occupation of the castle and the story of the MacDonalds – the Lords of the Isles.

Zoë Wiacek, a University of Reading student who found the seal, said everyone on the dig became excited when it was uncovered. She described the moment she removed a piece of rubble and found the artifact just sitting there on the ground.

Seals are extremely rare finds and this discovery conjures up an image of a Campbell garrison fleeing from the castle when under attack, dropping and losing one of their most precious items. Another possibility is that the seal was hidden within a wall niche and was long forgotten.

The exact date of the original construction of Dunyvaig Castle is unknown, although archaeologists believe there is the possibility of the remains of an earlier settlement on the site, dating from Medieval or even prehistoric times. The site is currently being excavated as part of an ongoing project by the University of Reading and Islay Heritage to learn more about the history of Dunyvaig.