Archaeology: Medieval excrement reveals how diet changes since may have triggered diseases

Five hundred-year-old excrement from Medieval toilets reveals how changes in diet since the 15th Century may have triggered diseases such as irritable bowels, allergies and obesity Researchers analysed deposits from two Medieval latrines from Latvia and Israel They identified various microorganisms from the guts of the toilets’ users The findings could provide a baseline to compare with … Read more

Photos of Sgt Ratana murder suspect posing with a 5ft medieval SWORD emerge

Posing for the camera, this is the former engineering student suspected of shooting dead policeman Matt Ratana. Alleged gunman Louis De Zoysa, 23, remains in a critical condition after apparently blasting himself during a tussle with officers after Sgt Ratana was hit in the heart inside his own station last week. These images of De Zoysa … Read more

Hidden history of York’s medieval city walls to be uncovered in major of excavation

Hidden history of York’s medieval city walls to be uncovered in major of excavation of an ancient tower that is cracking under the weight of its famous walkway 14th century Tower Two has been steadily deteriorating for around five years  Widening fissure is caused by weight of walkway which was built in 18th century  Tower was … Read more

Lost medieval sacristy at Westminster Abbey unearthed with remains of ‘thousands’ of buried dead

The lost sacristy of Westminster Abbey: 13th century room where monks kept sacred items is unearthed at site where ‘hundreds’ of its brothers were buried The Great Sacristy would have been on the Abbey’s North Green where monks kept sacred items used in mass Abbey authorities want to fully understand grounds’ medieval footprint before building … Read more

Discovery of 750-year-old seal of medieval pope in Shropshire is 1.5millionth find by British public

The number of archaeological objects officially unearthed in Britain has reached the 1.5million mark – with the discovery of a seal belonging to a 13th century pope. The medieval find, which is more than 750 years old, was a seal of Pope Innocent IV and may have links to an English monarch. Born Sinibaldo Fieschi, … Read more

Medieval house where Charles courted Diana and saw Camilla goes on sale for £3.75million 

The scent of the past still lingers behind its mullioned windows. It is a heady past of romance and moonlit flits, of star-crossed lovers and thwarted love, too. Almost every inch of its fabric carries some tantalising echo of bygone days even though much inside has changed. The shabby-chic interiors of cartoons, framed photographs, pot … Read more

Medieval cemetery discovered under a Berlin car park reveals its original residents’ lives

Medieval cemetery discovered under a Berlin car park reveals its original residents’ lives were plagued by conflict, disease and poor diets Signs of rickets, scurvy and tuberculosis were found on some of the skeletons They had been buried around the former St Peter’s Church in Colln, now in Berlin Archaeologists suggested the remains reveal the … Read more

‘Fantasy knight’ in medieval fancy dress and carrying a sword says sorry after beauty spot scare 

A ‘fantasy knight’ today apologised after armed police swooped on his stroll in full medieval outfit and sword around a Cardiff beauty spot – and said: ‘I was simply enjoying a walk in my armour.’ History-lover Lennon Thomas, 20, was stopped in his tracks at Hendre Lake, in St Mellons by three gun-toting officers on Wednesday … Read more

Dozens of prehistoric, Roman and medieval sites are discovered by lockdown archaeologists

Citizen scientists searching aerial images while on coronavirus lockdown have uncovered dozens of previously-hidden Roman, prehistoric and medieval sites.  Archaeological digs are currently on hold due to the pandemic but researchers have found roads, burial mounds and settlements – all while working from home. Researchers from the University of Exeter asked teams of volunteers to … Read more

Medieval longbow victims suffered similar injuries to gun shots

Medieval arrows caused injuries similar to modern gunshot wounds, according to archaeologists analysing newly-discovered human remains. The bones, recovered from a Dominican friary in Exeter, show arrows fired from longbows could penetrate right through the human skull, creating small entry and large exit wounds. The human skeletons examined as part of the study, who had … Read more