Tower Digging at London's Tower Unearths Tales of Neglected Dwellers from Recent History
In the heart of the historic Tower of London, an unexpected discovery was made during the installation of a new visitor elevator at the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula. The excavation, which began in 2018, has provided unprecedented access to the past, allowing for the unearthing of many secrets.
Archaeologists uncovered approximately 25 to 50 skeletons, none of whom showed signs of violent deaths. The first skeletons found were a middle-aged woman and a young boy, buried between 1480 and 1550. As excavation continued, more skeletons were discovered, revealing a snapshot of life within the Tower during various periods.
One of the most intriguing findings was a 14th-century mass grave, containing bodies jumbled and seemingly dumped. This suggests a rapid burial due to the bubonic plague that swept through Europe starting in 1348. Another grave contained two small charcoal pots, exceptionally rare medieval grave goods used like incense burners to purify the burial space.
Experts speculate that the large section of wall and possible floor surface found could be a fragment of the legendary "phantom chapel" of Henry I, a 12th-century building. Below this, they found the sturdy stone foundations of a chapel built by King Edward I in the 1280s, beneath the previous chapel. Below Edward's chapel, they found a compacted layer of Reigate stone, which could be part of an even earlier church or associated building, built by Henry III in 1240.
The Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula was not just a private resting place for executed nobles, but also a church for the people living inside the Tower. The discovery of personal items and four cannonballs alongside the bodies gives a vivid picture of daily life during the period.
The woman found to have come from Wales had a diet rich in protein and sugar, indicating she was a person of status. Conversely, a boy, aged around 13, was a London native with the diet of a commoner, showing signs of malnutrition and distress.
The excavation findings suggest that the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula was more significant in the lives of the people living within the Tower than previously thought. The Tower of London, erected and having been a symbol of power and threat, continues to reveal its rich history through such discoveries.
While the archaeologist leading the excavations at the Tower of London is not explicitly named in the available search results, their work has undoubtedly shed new light on the lives of those who lived and died within its walls. The installation of the new visitor elevator has not only improved accessibility but also opened the door to understanding the Tower's past like never before.
