South East Scotland has several important post-medieval battlefields. The Wars of the Three Kingdoms saw bitter fighting in the region, including the Battle of Philiphaugh in 1645, which largely brought to an end the Marquess of Montrose’s Royalist campaign, and the second Battle of Dunbar in 1650, in which the Scottish Covenanting Army of David Leslie was defeated by the English Commonwealth’s New Model Army. In 1666 the region was the focus of the Pentland Rising – a conflict which led to the Battle of Rullion Green in Midlothian, an unsual example of a pitched battle between the government of Charles II and a Covenanting army. The South East was also affected by the Jacobite campaigns, and in 1745 Prestonpans was the scene of Charles Edward Stuart’s first major victory over the forces of the Hanoverian government. All of these battlefields have potential for further archaeological investigation.
| Battle | Year | Antagonists | Council Area | Inventory ID |
| Philiphaugh | 1645 | Royalist Army led by Marquess of Montrose vs. Covenanting Army led by David Leslie. | Borders | BTL14 |
| Dunbar II | 1650 | Scottish Army of the Covenants led by David Leslie vs. English New Model Army led by Oliver Cromwell. | East Lothian | BTL7 |
| Rullion Green | 1666 | Covenanting Army led by James Wallace vs. Scottish Government Army led by Thomas Dalziel | Midlothian | BTL27 |
| Prestonpans | 1745 | Jacobite Army led by Charles Edward Stuart vs. British Government Army led by Sir John Cope. | East Lothian | BTL16 |
Detailed descriptions from the 1640s have enabled identification of the probable site of the Battle of Philiphaugh on land near the River Ettrick about a mile from Selkirk (HES Battlefield Inventory). Metal detecting on the flat land near the river and on slightly higher ground nearby has produced substantial amounts of lead bullets. The land covered by the battlefield is mostly undeveloped, and may well preserve significant archeological remains from the period of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
The second battle of Dunbar was the most significant military engagement during Cromwell’s invasion of Scotland at the beginning of the 1650s. It led to the death or capture of almost half of the Covenanting Army. There have thus far been no archaeological finds associated with the battle. Large sections of the battlefield have been disturbed by historic industrial activity, later transport routes, and other modern development. However, some areas, particularly the lands towards Doon Hill are less developed. It is thought that the Scottish Covenanting Army camped on the slopes of Doon Hill before the battle. The Scottish camp was looted by Cromwell’s forces, but a concentration of artefacts may perhaps survive in that area. Large numbers of Scots were taken prisoner at Dunbar, many of whom subsequently suffered severe ill treatment at the hands of the Cromwellian amy. In 2013 remains of Scottish prisoners from Dunbar were found in mass graves on Palace Green in Durham (Gerrard et al 2018). It is possible that graves of other prisoners lie undiscovered along the route from Dunbar to Durham.
Rullion Green was the only pitched battle of the Pentland Rising of the 1660s. It was triggered by a Covenanting Army from the South West of Scotland seeking to march on Edinburgh, but being intercepted at Rullion Green in Midlothian. The battle has traditionally been assumed to have taken place on and around Turnhouse Hill, although there is some uncertainty about the exact location of much of the fighting. As of 2025 the battlefield had not received an archaeological survey. Although, parts of the battlefield are covered by woodland, much of the area is open farmland. Metal detecting and other forms of study of the likely battlefield area would be highly desirable.
The Battle of Prestonpans was the last time that a pitched battle was fought in South East Scotland. It was a significant Jacobite victory, but unfolded over an exceptionally brief space of time. Indeed, some think that the actual fighting at Prestonpans occupied only half an hour on 21 September 1745. From the 18th century onwards finds associated with the Battle of Prestonpans have been uncovered in the area. Burials thought to be linked to the battle have been found near the B6371 around the former farm of Thorntree Mains (Historic Environment Scotland Battlefield Inventory). Meanwhile metal detecting in the Seton area has revealed significant amounts of post-medieval military finds, including musket balls and cannon shot. Research led by the University of Glasgow has identified the probable site of the battle, which appears to have been slightly closer to Port Seton than was traditionally assumed (Pollard and Ferguson 2010). Whilst parts of the battlefield’s surroundings have been redeveloped, it seems that the main engagement took place in what is still open farmland. Even in built-up areas stray finds of musket balls have been reported. It seems highly likely that much of the battlefield holds considerable archaeological potential.