The Watcher of Tantallon Castle

The Story

Is this some patron who got lost on a tour, or is this an ages-old specter observing the events of the modern day from his ghostly vantage point?

The eerie image was taken by tourist Christopher Aitchison in May 2008 at Tantallon Castle east of Edinburgh. Aitchison has told newspapers that there was no one standing on the overlook when he snapped the picture.

The "person" appears to be wearing an old-style greenish ruff around the neck, a style congruent with old-style fashion.

Ghost? Wayward tourist? Costumed performer? Trick of the light? The decision is yours to make.

Analysis

This picture has been one of the more famous ghost pictures of recent days and, indeed, there is much about it that cannot be easily explained.

One thing is for sure: that is a person.  I don't believe that it is a trick of the light or some sort of illusion.  The real question is: Is this a ghost or just a regular human being?  Unfortunately, that's a question that just can't be answered.  It is unusual that the mystery man is wearing what appears to be period clothing but that could easily be explained away by say that he is a costumed performer.  From all accounts, however, that I have heard, Tantallon Castle does not employ any. (Is this true?  Someone let me know!)

If we are to take the eyewitness accounts as truth and there was indeed no one up there then the picture could be the genuine article.

Conclusion

It's possible that the camera caught what is called a "stone tape recording" - a psychic imprint on an environment that plays like a recording when certain conditions are just right.  There was an account many years ago that a man in Italy was working on his cellar when all of the sudden, a phantom Roman army marched through.  When investigators dug into his cellar floor, the found the remains of an ancient Roman road.

I believe that, if this is a ghost, it is probably that same phenomenon.  Just a harmless residual haunting.

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