The remains of Scottish prisoners of war who died after being captured by Oliver Cromwell's troops nearly 400 years ago will not be reburied north of the border.

The skeletons of between 17 and 28 people - some as young as 13-years-old - were discovered in 2013 in a mass grave close to Durham Cathedral and Castle.

Analysis had shown the bones belonged to soldiers taken prisoner by the English at the 1650 Battle of Dunbar, some 111 miles (179km) north.

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The remains of the soldiers were found in 2013 in a mass grave during construction work on the university's Palace Green Library cafe

THE MASS GRAVE FOUND AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY The remains of the soldiers were found in 2013 in a mass grave during construction work on the university's Palace Green Library cafe. Archaeologists at first thought they had uncovered remains of Durham Cathedral's medieval cemetery, the boundaries of which may have extended further than the present day burial site. But the corpses had been tipped into the earth without elaborate ceremony, suggesting they were part of a mass burial. Research showed they were the remains of Scottish soldiers from the Battle of Dunbar, answering an almost 400-year-old mystery as to where those soldiers who died had been buried. As an estimated 1,700 prisoners from the battle died and were buried in Durham, it was thought possible that there are more mass graves under buildings close to the cathedral. Advertisement

There had been hopes the bones could be returned to Scotland.

However, following consultation over the issue, the bones are now to be buried in a churchyard close to where they were originally found.

A plaque featuring stone from Dunbar will be erected at the original grave site, and further research will be carried out on the remains, expected to finish late next year, before they are reburied.

Canon Rosalind Brown, of Durham Cathedral, said: 'The hope of both Durham Cathedral and Durham University is that interested parties will join us in planning a fitting and dignified reburial and commemoration for the soldiers.

'We will also be working closely with both the local church and churches in Scotland to plan this.'

The remains of the soldiers were found in 2013 in a mass grave during construction work on Durham University's Palace Green Library cafe.

Archaeologists at first thought they had uncovered remains of Durham Cathedral's medieval cemetery, the boundaries of which may have extended further than the present day burial site.

But the corpses had been tipped into the earth without elaborate ceremony, suggesting they were part of a mass burial.

Between 17 and 28 skeletons discovered in a mass grave close to Durham Cathedral in 2013 were found to be the bones of prisoners from the 1650 Battle of Dunbar, some 111 miles (179km) north. Pictured is a jawbone found

Research showed they were the remains of Scottish soldiers from the Battle of Dunbar, answering an almost 400-year-old mystery as to the fate of prisoners from the battle.

The Battle of Dunbar saw English Parliamentary forces under Oliver Cromwell defeat a far larger Scottish army who were loyal to King Charles II.

The victory helped cement Cromwell's reputation as a ruthless and cunning military leader.

Around 6,000 of Charles II's supporters were taken prisoner and an estimated 1,700 died and were buried in Durham after being forcibly marched south.

This suggests there could be more remains buried in mass graves under buildings close to the cathedral.

Archaeologists at first thought they had uncovered remains of Durham Cathedral's medieval cemetery, the boundaries of which may have extended further than the present day burial site. Pictured is the remains of a skeleton found at the site

Research showed the bones were the remains of Scottish soldiers from the Battle of Dunbar, answering an almost 400-year-old mystery as to where those soldiers who died had been buried

The team behind the project at Durham University concluded that as some of the skeletons are incomplete it might be better not to separate them.

Several thousand Scottish soldiers were captured and marched south following the Battle of Dunbar (illustrated). Around 3,000 were imprisoned at Durham Castle and around 1,700 of them died there

They said it wanted to limit the distance between those remains that have been exhumed and those still in the original mass graves was the most ethically responsible course of action.

It was also agreed that keeping these individuals as close as possible to their comrades would be morally appropriate.

Professor David Cowling, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities at Durham University, said the decision was complex, adding: 'We were acutely aware of the strength and depth of interest amongst many about the fate of these soldiers, whilst at the same time recognising our ethical, moral and legal obligations.'

Meetings and public events in Dunbar and Durham also enabled the project team to present its findings to more than 250 members of the public and hear from interested groups and individuals.

Archaeological analysis of the skeletons found the men were mainly young, inexperienced soldiers, aged predominantly between 13 and 25. Pictured are various teeth found at the site

DUNBAR'S CHILD SOLDIERS Some of the prisoners of war whose skeletons were discovered in the mass grave close to Durham cathedral were as young as 13 years old, experts have revealed. Researchers from Durham University identified the bones as coming from soldiers captured after the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. Radiocarbon tests on the jumbled remains of between 17 and 28 people has led to the conclusion that they were Scottish soldiers aged between 13 and 25. Advertisement

Professor Chris Gerrard, head of the project team at Durham University, said: 'It has been hugely rewarding to see the level of interest in the Scottish Soldiers Archaeology Project.'

After Cromwell's unexpected victory over Scottish forces who supported Charles II, around 6,000 were captured, with 1,000 of the sickest being freed.

A further 1,000 of the hungry, defeated soldiers died on the gruelling march south, while many escaped and some were shot for refusing to walk further.

Around 3,000 Scots were imprisoned in Durham's then abandoned castle and cathedral, with an estimated 50 dying every day.

Less than half of those imprisoned in Durham survived and were eventually transported to English colonies overseas to be used as convict labourers.

Archaeological analysis of the skeletons found the men were mainly young, inexperienced soldiers, aged predominantly between 13 and 25.

Given the incomplete nature of the skeletons, limiting the distance between those remains that have been exhumed and those still in the original mass graves was the most ethically responsible course of action