Black Death victims 'found' among remains of more than 20 people at the Tower of London
The skeletons are among more than 20 burials found during the excavation project near the White Tower, which was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
The possible plague burials date back to the correct time period - the 14th century - and it is believed the collection may be a mass grave, a practice typical when the virus was running rampant.
The excavations have been conducted outside the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, which holds the remains of Henry VIII's two beheaded wives - Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard - and his executed lord chancellor, Thomas More.
The work has been carried out to prepare the chapel for the installation of a new lift.
Work on the project began six years ago, when a trial excavation found two skeletons buried outside the chapel.
What was first excavation ever to be undertaken outside the chapel was carried out earlier this year by experts from private firm Pre-Construct Archaeology and overseen by curators from Historic Royal Palaces, which cares for the Tower.
DNA testing will show if the possible plague victims actually died from the disease.
As well as these remains, three skeletons from the late 12th or early 13th century were uncovered.
These people appear to have been buried in coffins, which is unusual for the period. It indicates the individuals could have been of high status.
Also found was a rare fragment of a burial shroud. Textiles do not normally survive such a long period underground.
A separate burial also contained two pots containing charcoal. They are exceptionally rare examples of medieval grave goods and are believed to date back to the 12th century or early 13th century.
Further scientific analysis will now take place to find out more about the lives, deaths and burials of the people found.
The dig has also shed more light on the history of the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula.
The current structure was built between 1519 and 1520 after a fire burned down the original building, which was put up during the reign of King Edward I in the 13th century.
Evidence of a fire has been found, along with the foundations of the previous building.
In Britain alone, the Black Death wiped out up to half of the population when it struck between 1348 and 1350.
Alfred Hawkins, curator of historic buildings at Historic Royal Palaces, said: 'Undertaking these two excavations has provided us with a generational opportunity to enhance our understanding of the evolution of the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula, and the buildings which stood before it.
'Alongside this, through undertaking a rigorous scientific assessment of the remains encountered in 2019, we have been able to start to build up a more detailed picture of the individual lives of the people who lived, died, and worshipped within the chapel, which will only be enhanced through the results of the current, larger excavation.
'These excavations were essential as part of our mission to provide greater access for people to visit this important place of worship, but they have also given us an amazing opportunity to explore the site in more depth than ever before, and I'm looking forward to starting analysis on some of the other amazing finds we have uncovered along the way.'
Dr Katie Faillace, based at Cardiff University's School of History, Archaeology and Religion, said: 'The new excavations provide the opportunity to transform our understanding of the Tower's community.
'Our work uses a biomolecular technique known as isotope analysis, which tells us about health, diet and mobility in the past, all from a tiny fragment of a tooth.
'This cutting-edge method has unparalleled potential for reconstructing the experiences of the people who lived and died at the Tower, allowing us to build a rich picture of individuals' lives.'
Dr Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said: 'Together we've struck a balance between creating lift access to a fascinating part of the Tower of London, with the complexity of carefully managing a hugely significant and archaeologically rich site.
'We're already gaining insight into the residents of the Tower in a way we have never been able to do before.
'But this is just the tip of the iceberg - there is so much more to learn through further analysis about the people as well as the buildings of one of England's most evocative historic monuments.'
The horror of the Black Death
The Black Death is believed to have claimed its first victim in Britain in the summer of 1348.
It spread slowly at first but then struck Exeter and later Bristol.
By December 1349, almost the entire British Isles were afflicted.
At the time, it was the worst natural disaster in European history.
It is estimated that in England alone the population of five to six million was reduced to around three million.
It was deemed by many to be a punishment from God for mankind's wickedness.
Rich and poor suffered equally. King Edward III's daughter Joan was one of the victims. The plague also claimed the life of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In London, around 300 people died every day in the square mile. Each night, carts filled with piles of corpses made their way to the huge communal cemeteries outside the city walls.
William of Dene, a monk in Rochester, recorded: 'The plague carried off so vast a multitude of people of both sexes that nobody could be found who would bear the corpses to the grave.
'Parents carried their own children on their shoulders to the church and threw them in the common pit.
'From these pits such an appalling stench was given off that scarcely anyone dared even walk beside the cemeteries.'
Overall, as many as 25million people in Europe were killed.
The Black Death subsided in Britain by the end of 1350, but there were further sporadic outbreaks until the late 17th century.
Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague and is spread by the bite from an infected flea.
The infection spreads to immune glands called lymph nodes, causing them to become swollen and painful and may progress to open sores.
Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, and can be contracted by humans and household animals if proper precautions are not taken.
Human-to-human transmission of bubonic plague is rare and is usually caught from animals.
Symptoms may include sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, nausea and extreme pain and swelling of lymph nodes, occurring within two to seven days after exposure.
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