Pristine pilgrim skeletons found in Warwickshire could have been followers of medieval saint

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Medieval bodies found near Lichfield Cathedral could have been pilgrims seeking saint’s healing

Around 50 “pristine” medieval skeletons have been found at a pilgrimage site where devotees of St Chad, the 7th century saint, travelled to be close to his Lichfield Cathedral tomb.

Archaeology Warwickshire carried out an emergency excavation at a building site for apartments in the city, uncovering rows of medieval burials and receiving a Ministry of Justice licence to delicately remove and study the remains.

“The site of the excavation was a well-known site of pilgrimage in medieval times with pilgrims travelling from around the medieval world to be close to the remains of St Chad,” says Stuart Palmer, the Business Manager for the group.

“St John’s in medieval Lichfield provided overnight accommodation for pilgrims for several hundred years. Many of the pilgrims visiting came to be healed and some may well have died, which carries the possibility that this burial ground was for these unfortunate pilgrims.

“Although medieval burial sites are not uncommon in the UK, those associated with known sites of pilgrimage are not so common and this work presents a rare opportunity to study such a particular assemblage.

“The remains are currently being processed at our offices in Montague Road and, once cleaned, will be aged and sexed and examined for signs of injury, disease, dietary deficiency and other pathologies.

“These tests can often reveal fascinating aspects of life, medical practise and life expectancy in medieval populations. This could provide us with a truly fascinating window into the past.”

Palmer says volunteers and students could be invited to join the investigations as part of an accompanying training programme.

• Visit Archaeology Warwickshire for more.

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Three places to follow in the footsteps of pilgrims

St Botolph's Church - The Boston Stump
Over its 700 years this church has played its part in both national and international history. It will be forever linked through the Puritan emigrants who in 1630 followed in the wake of the Pilgrim Fathers and founded a new Boston in the US. This city has long since surpassed the Lincolnshire Boston in size and importance, but their close links have never been forgotten.

Abbot House Heritage Centre, Dunfermline
Visit the long-lost head shrine of Saint Margaret, the wife of King Malcolm III (Malcolm Canmore), skillfully recreated and now displayed within a rich interior conveying an impression of the lost colour and vitality of Dunfermline Abbey.

Canterbury Cathedral
Pilgrims and visitors have made their way to Canterbury Cathedral since the Middle Ages. It remains one of the most visited places in the country and a living community.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art537305-pristine-pilgrims-warwickshire-medieval-lichfield-cathedral