Human bones have been scattered around a Stonehaven graveyard after being disturbed by what is believed to be burrowing animals.
Exposed bones have been reported in St Ciaran’s kirkyard at Fetteresso in Stonehaven.
Aberdeenshire Council has asked people to stay clear of disturbed grave.
The historic kirkyard is the final resting place for more than 200 burials, with many gravestones dating as far back as the 18th century.
A social media post suggested the bones were disturbed by animals burrowing and digging “impressive holes” around the lairs.
The post reads: “There are various pieces lying throughout due to animals digging some quite impressive holes. Seems a bit eerie to leave these lying about.
‘Such a shame’
“Also, lots of the gravestones are toppled over and broken. Such a shame for such a historic graveyard.”
Mum, Amy Muir, said it was her daughter Maddie, 11, who first made the gruesome discovery.
She said: “We like to go there as we like to look at the history of the graveyard. We often walk up around that area, and we often have our dog with us. It is quite close to our house.
“Maddie went up the day before yesterday and found a jaw. The jaw was gone by the time we went up the following day.
“But more bones were there when we went back up yesterday. We found a different part of the jaw, this time with teeth. It is eerie to find them lying about.
“At another grave, where the headstone says a three-year-old child was buried we found small bones so we think it might have been the same child.
“These bones are likely to be hundreds of years old, but it is very eerie to see them lying around the graveyard. I don’t know if people were buried in caskets or if they were wrapped and laid into the grave.
“But I suppose that does not matter, there are lots of parts of bones lying around, and it is a shame that children are finding them.”
“There are now loads of holes up at the graveyard, and we think it is likely to be a wild animal.
‘Hundreds of years old’
“The graveyard is in a desperate state with lots of graves toppled over and lying horizontal. We know that someone has been in to cut the grass but we didn’t know what else to do.”
She continued: “We put it onto social media because we did not know how to get help, or even who to go to for help.
The issue was reported to Aberdeenshire Council on Saturday evening, with teams sent to inspect the damage on Sunday morning.
Although initial work has been carried out, the council workers will return to the kirkyard on Monday.
Visitors are being asked to “stand clear” of lairs that have been affected.
A spokesman for the council said: “We have carried out an initial inspection of St Ciaran’s kirkyard at Fetteresso following reports of lairs being disturbed by burrowing animals, and we will return on Monday to take further action to restore them.
“We would ask visitors to stand clear of any lairs which appear to have been affected.”
Conversation