The Tower of London’s Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula has yielded more than 50 skeletons across roughly 20 burials after a trial dig in 2019 expanded into a larger excavation. Archaeologists uncovered a probable Black Death mass grave from 1348 and high‑status graves dating to the late 12th or early 13th centuries with a medieval shroud, jewelry, stained glass fragments and incense pots (1150–1250). Officials say isotope and other biomolecular analyses will reveal diet, health and mobility and could transform understanding of the Tower’s historic community.
Dozens of Skeletons Uncovered Beneath Tower of London Chapel — Black Death Mass Grave and High‑Status Medieval Burials Found
London, England - April 06, 2018 - The Tower of London is a fortress located on the banks of the River Thames. It was built in 1066 during the Norman Conquests of England. At different times, the Tower of London has been used as a castle, fortress, an armoury, and the home of the Crown Jewels.
Archaeologists have uncovered more than 50 skeletons beneath the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London, in what began as a 2019 trial excavation and expanded into a major investigation, officials said.
From A Trial Dig To A Major Discovery
The work started in 2019 while contractors prepared to install a new lift. The team initially exposed two skeletons dated to around 1500, but further excavation — extending roughly 10 feet below ground — revealed a total of some 20 discrete burials containing more than 50 individuals. Among these was a mass interment that researchers believe dates to the Black Death of 1348.
High‑Status Medieval Graves And Rare Finds
Deeper investigation recovered three skeletons that appear to date from the late 12th or early 13th centuries. Those graves contained unusually costly funerary items for the period, including a well-preserved shroud, fragments of stained glass, jewelry, and rare funerary incense pots still holding charcoal that has been radiocarbon-dated to between 1150 and 1250 — all suggesting higher-status burials.
“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,”
— Alfred Hawkins, Curator of Historic Buildings, Historic Royal Palaces
Context And Significance
The Tower complex dates to the 1070s and has served as a royal palace, fortress, and prison. The current chapel was rebuilt in 1520 after a fire destroyed the 1287 structure, and evidence of an even earlier, simpler stone chapel has also been identified, explaining the presence of many burials on the site. Traditionally, burial proximity to the church indicated social standing: nearer the church or under the altar generally denotes greater importance.
Scientific Analysis And Next Steps
Lead researchers from Historic Royal Palaces, Cardiff University and Historic England plan extensive scientific study. Teams will use biomolecular methods — including isotope analysis of tiny tooth fragments — to reconstruct diet, health and mobility. As Richard Madgwick of Cardiff University put it, the finds “hint at the dynamic movement of people and the dynamic life trajectories of the people who were buried in the Tower.”
“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,”
— Jane Sidell, Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Historic England
So far, the site has confirmed the burials of three queens and two Catholic saints in its wider area. Researchers say the combination of archaeological context and cutting-edge laboratory techniques offers a rare opportunity to build a detailed picture of the Tower’s past community.
Reporting note: The discoveries have been covered in recent media reports, including accounts published by Men’s Journal and Popular Mechanics.
