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Treasure in Swamp: Medieval objects found in a septic tank in London | Israel today

2020-01-26T16:13:04.132Z


About 100 items from the 14th and 15th centuries were discovered under the building of the Cortold Institute • Among the findings: a gold ring, tiles and pottery


Under the Cortold Institute building, about 100 items from the 14th and 15th centuries were discovered • Among the findings: a gold ring, tiles and pottery • The London Archeology Museum is considering an exhibition of the ancient artifacts in 2021

  • Exposing the Pit // Photo: London Archeology Museum

Astonishment in London: Dozens of historically valuable objects were recently discovered in a sticky and green sludge in a septic tank four feet deep just below the Courtold Art Institute at Somerset.

As reported in the Guardian newspaper, the sensational treasure included about 100 items from the 14th and 15th centuries, including pottery and tableware, floor tiles - material used to decorate palaces and monks - and a variety of metal tools, gold ring, belt buckle, fork and pendant . In addition, among the objects, which were almost intact, were also found a thick chain that may have been attached to the candlestick.

These are the remains of magnificent estates that once stood on the beach. These houses preceded not only Somerset House, the masterpiece of architect Sir William Chambers completed in 1801, but also the Tudor Palace, which became the residence of Queen Elizabeth I before it was later demolished due to neglect.

Bowl excavated // Photo: London Archeology Museum

"It's not used to being enthusiastic about a septic tank, but this gargantuan piece is the only link we found associated with medieval colonies in the area," said Simon Thorley, a historian and former chief executive of English Heritage. Huge. This is an incredibly significant finding. "

No one had any idea what was underneath the spectacular Palladian building, which houses the Cortold Gallery with collections of ancient masterpieces. Archaeologists from the Museum of London Archeology were allowed into the complex during the current extensive renovation of Cortold.

Antonita Lerz, a senior archaeologist at the museum, noted that it was "an incredible coincidence", since precisely where new toilets were designed, they found early toilets that are "alongside the less glittering of nearly 500 years of luxury life alongside the Thames."

Recalling the mistrust of archaeologists during the excavation, she said: "We just kept getting deeper. Finding something of that magnitude - and all the findings that came out of it - is extraordinary. Almost every time we dug deeper into the earth, something else came up. .

Iron Fork // Photo: London Archeology Museum

"In general, septic tanks are waste containers from the toilets. The toilet seats were located above them. The objects we found - all the pottery and metal - were thrown into them, probably because it was a convenient place to dispose of unwanted or broken objects, although probably some of the artifacts, "Like the finger ring, they were accidentally discarded. It's pretty unusual to find so many whole or nearly whole ceramics. There were a few small spice bowls with a center divider, almost like two compartments, some jugs, probably wine. We also found a plate that was used for cooking meat."

Where buses run down the beach, there once stood a series of grand estates, the regional bishops' residences, a question they stayed in town to serve the king. The little information available on these houses can be found in some written and sketched sources from the 1940s.

"The structure of the septic tank and the earliest fillings date from the 14th to the 16th centuries, which is why we think it has to do with Bishop Chester's inn - his London home - that occupied the site in front of Somerset House," Lerz added.

Gold ring with a gemstone // Photo: London Archeology Museum

The London Archeology Museum is currently reviewing the findings, and even plans to hold an exhibition open to the public starting in the spring of 2021.

Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2020-01-26

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