Archaeologists at the Tower of London are currently uncovering the bones of history, revealing a mass grave potentially linked to the Black Death beneath one of England’s most iconic landmarks. These findings, which include the remains of 20 individuals, have been made during an archaeological excavation ahead of a scheduled renovation of the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula, a chapel that has been an important site of worship for centuries. As part of the work, researchers have also discovered rare medieval burial artifacts, including a burial shroud made of fabric, a unique find given the rarity of such materials in medieval burials.
The excavation, which marks the first major dig at the Tower in over 30 years, is part of the broader project to understand the site’s medieval history, which includes the chapel’s earlier incarnations. The site has long been a place of significance, having served as a resting place for many who lived or were imprisoned within the Tower’s walls, including three queens and two Catholic saints. Despite its historical importance, much of the chapel’s past remains a mystery. The recent discoveries are expected to provide crucial insights into the site’s development, as well as the people who lived, worshipped, and died there.
Among the most intriguing finds is a mass grave of 14th-century skeletons, said by officials to be