Upper Jurassic sediments from the Inner Moray Basin have been analysed using a variety of organic geochemical techniques. Shales belonging to the Kimmeridge Clay and Heather/Brora Formations may be readily distinguished using molecular parameters, bulk geochemical data and the results of transmitted light kerogen microscopy. Oxfordian sediments are characteristically more organic lean and sulphur poor than their ?Volgian - Kimmeridgian counterparts; they also contain a more significant terrestrially derived organic matter component. Lipid fractions in the remainder of the succession are typically dominated by the products of marine algal phytoplankton and bacteria. Detailed investigation of the distribution of biological marker compounds indicates that the nuclear demethylated hopanes are confined exclusively to sediments of ?Volgian - Kimmeridgian age in this basin. This feature, together with other more subtle, non-source specific variations may be attributed to a decrease in the dissolved oxygen content of the water column throughout the Upper Jurassic. All maturity measurements concur that in this region the Upper Jurassic sediments are insufficiently mature to have generated or expelled significant volumes of petroleum at any stage throughout their geological history. A range of maturities is nevertheless recognized which permits a ranking of the individual wells, and indicates that shales overlying the Beatrice reservoir have experienced the greatest thermal stress. A marked discrepancy in the maturities of contemporaneous sediments from two groups of wells presently at the same burial depth, has also been identified. This is largely consistent with the observed variation in geothermal gradients and the distribution of Kimmeridgian sands across the basin. Kinetic modelling using the biological marker maturity parameters has established that in the west 1km of sediment has been removed following Tertiary inversion of the basin. Results indicate that in the east, a figure of 700-800m is more appropriate. Potential source rock lithologies from the margins of the basin have also been examined. These included the Jurassic sediments in the Helmsdale outlier and Middle Devonian lacustrine laminites from Caithness. A Middle Devonian component to the Beatrice crude is strongly suggested by the similarity of their steroid alkane distributions.

The subject of this study is the province of Moray between <i>c.</i>100 and 1230.  The first chapter of this thesis examines the <i>Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, </i>and compares this collection against the manuscripts from which it was sourced.  The collection of material in this register has been redated, and since Moray was in political upheaval around that time, there is now some doubt concerning the authenticity of the documents in this collection. The next two chapters of the thesis deal with the geography of Moray.  Chapter 2 is concerned with defining the boundaries of Moray, both secular and ecclesiastic.  It is argued that the 1312 extent of the earldom and regality of Moray may be much older than the fourteenth century, because it is based upon the boundaries of pre-parochial units of land.  The thesis then discusses the internal structure of the province, units of secular lordship and parishes in chapter three. The final two chapters of this thesis then examines Moravian politics between <i>c</i>. 1000 and 1230.  In medieval historiography covering this period Moravians have been assigned an awful reputation for violence, revolt and opposition to the kings of Alba.  Chapter 4 begins by examining the theory that Moray and Alba were two different countries.  In contrast to current opinion it is argued that Moray was not an independent kingdom during the eleventh century. The final chapter then examines a number of different topics, including the so-called ‘feudalisation’ of Moray after 1130, the MacWilliams, and the Moravian origin legend.  Here, it is argued that the continued reputation of Moravians after 1130 as traitors and rebels is unjustified and that Moray was not ‘feudalised’ by incoming families after 1130. Taken together, these five chapters will present a radically new interpretation of the evidence, geography and history of Moray and Moravians between <i>c</i>.1000 and 1230.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of St Andrews, March 2008.

This thesis examines and re-evaluates the political career and reputation of James Stewart, Earl of Moray, who acted as Regent of Scotland for the young King James VI from 1567-1570, after the deposition of Mary, Queen of Scots. Drawing upon a rich and varied body of evidence located in both the English and Scottish archives of state papers, together with contemporary propaganda, memoirs and histories, this work constructs a much needed political narrative of the period, investigating the often highly complex politics which lay behind the outbreak and the initial stages of the Marian Civil War. It questions Maurice Lee's image of Moray as the 'gude regent', an image which was first present in Buchanan's History, and which depicts Moray as a highly successful regent, and an altruistic Protestant reformer. Dispelling Lee's view of Moray as a 'reluctant regent', it shows instead that the Earl was determined to gain, and then maintain, his position of power. It incorporates a discussion of the constitutionality of the actual regency itself, together with the theories of election which were drawn up to justify both it and the deposition of a monarch. In addition, the thesis sheds light upon the dynamics of Scottish political alignment during the period, emphasising the great fluidity which was to be found, and showing how issues of internal government, and attitudes towards England, affected men's allegiances as much as, if not more than, the ostensible issue of monarchy itself. This study also builds upon recent work by Tudor historians such as John Guy and Stephen Alford, and sets Moray's regency within an Anglo-Scottish context, demonstrating the importance of the interconnections between events in England, such as the Norfolk plot, and Scottish politics. It investigates the English attitudes towards Mary, and towards the two rival parties within Scotland, taking into account the sometimes conflicting objectives of Elizabeth I and her leading ministers, such as William Cecil, yet showing how they consistently sought to gain dominance over Scotland. Moray's regency was cut short by his assassination, and this thesis concludes by considering both his murder and its aftermath. It explores how his death impacted upon the political situation, together with the way in which his reputation was shaped in the immediate period after his death. Finally, it investigates the opportunity that both Moray's assassination and the Northern Rising of late 1569 had given England to intervene in Scottish affairs, and further pursue policies to that country's own advantage.

No / The Covesea Caves, located on the coast of the Moray Firth in northeastern Scotland, are a series of archaeological cave sites that are hypothesized to be part of a larger mortuary complex used during the Late Prehistoric period. Although much attention has been given to the unusual assemblage of human remains recovered from these sites, there has been less analysis undertaken on the vast amount of archaeofauna from the caves. This is in the process of being rectified through the recent work of the Covesea Cave Project, under direction of Ian Armit and Lindsey Büster and currently being undertaken at the University of Bradford. This report details attempts to confirm species identifications for several faunal bones of interest through various methodologies; unfortunately, not all of the attempts were successful. However, identifications are confirmed for two avian bones using comparative osteological analysis at the Avian Anatomical Collection at the Natural History Museum at Tring, United Kingdom. These species are placed in context through consideration of previous excavations at the Covesea Caves, as well as recent literature on ornithological analyses of ritual and funerary sites in Later Prehistoric Britain.