What We Don’t Know About Early Edinburgh History

Edinburgh, Scotland’s beloved capital, is steeped in rich history, from its early days as a fortress to its prominence as a medieval city. But there’s a large gap in the historical record that has left historians grappling with an incomplete understanding of its early development: the lost four centuries of Edinburgh’s history, spanning from the fall of Northumbria’s dominance in the 7th century to the reign of Malcolm II in the late 10th century. During this period, details about the city, its castle, and its people have been scarce, leaving us with more questions than answers.