Black Death victims 'discovered' in Tower of London excavation

The first dig in more than 30 years at the Tower of London has unearthed the remains of people who may have succumbed to the Black Death.

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.

In 1540, King Henry VIII changed the law to allow first-cousin marriage so he could wed Catherine Howard, his fifth wife

Black Death victims discovered in Tower of London excavation

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.'