Historic Dunbar: Archaeology and Development (Historic Scotland)

Strategically positioned on the coastal strip between Berwick and Edinburgh, Dunbar has had a colourful history, with a sequence of fortification and settlement from the Iron Age onwards. Deriving its name from 'dyn-baer', meaning 'summit fort', the military value of Dunbar Castle meant that the town was hard hit by successive wars and feuds and its eventful history included a period as a French army garrison in the 16th century. Dunbar's importance as a market town, however, is reflected in its elevation to the status of a royal burgh in 1445. Its port and fishing fleet brought additional prosperity in succeeding centuries. Dunbar's rich past is reflected in the diversity of its surviving archaeology.Simon Stronach is the author of 'Historic Dunbar: Archaeology and Development (Historic Scotland)', published 2006 under ISBN 9781902771526 and ISBN 1902771524.