Tower of London dig unveils possible links to Black Death
Archaeologists have found the remains of at least 20 individuals beneath the Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula, including a collection of burials from the 14th century in what could have been a mass grave.
Wiping out around three million people, out of an estimated six million in England at the time, the Black Death swept the country in the 14th century.
Alfred Hawkins, curator of historic buildings at Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), which manages the Tower of London, described the findings as 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'.
Some of the remains, from the 12th and 13th centuries were buried in coffins, which HRP says may indicate 'high-status' burials.
Alongside the coffins, a fragment of a burial shroud was found, an exceptionally rare discovery as textiles often do not survive in such conditions.
Two further burial sites have also been discovered that contain 13th century charcoal pots, similar artefacts have only been found once before at an archaeological site elsewhere in England.
The dig also unearthed signs of three successive chapels constructed on the site, with evidence of fire damage, medieval stonework, and rare artefacts dating back to the reign of Henry I in the 12th century.
Carried out ahead of the installation of a new lift to improve accessibility to the chapel, the excavation was approved and monitored by Historic England.
Dr Katie Faillace, an archaeologist based at Cardiff University's School of History, 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.'
The dig is the first major one of its kind on this specific part of the Tower, and enables a redrawing of the map of the medieval fortress which attracts almost three million visitors a year.
Dr Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, welcomed the findings.
She 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.'
She added: '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.'
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