 A confused tradition prevails of a great battle having been fought on the East Mains of Dunnichen, between Lothus, King of the Picts, or his son Modred, and Arthur King of the Britons, in which that hero of romance was slain.Buchanan, no doubt, places the scene of that battle upon the banks of the Humber, in England.But it is probable that some battle had been fought here[...]

In 1810, antiquarian George Chalmers identified that site as the probable location of the Battle of Dun Nechtain on 20 May 685, where the Picts, led by King Bridei Mac Bili conclusively defeated a Northumbrian army, led by King Ecgfrith, resulting in Ecgfrith's death.