Lower half of Parliamentarian captain's Civil War body could be exhumed by archaeologists at Nottingham Castle

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

There is a "strong likelihood" that a body found at Nottingham Castle belonged to a Captain killed in a post-siege fight between prisoners and Parliamentarians

The lower body of a human skeleton beneath Nottingham Castle, originally exhumed from a test pit designed to find the medieval Great Chapel in 1978, will be excavated by archaeologists during an excavation tomorrow morning.

Experts hope to expose the remainder of the human skeleton and reunite it with the area from the chest upwards, allowing a greater forensic examination of a body thought to belong to a victim of the Civil War September siege of 1643.

“We know from the excavation in 1978, which partially exposed the skeleton, that the burial predates landscaping works known to have been undertaken in the 1670s,” says Scott Lomax, the City Archaeologist for Nottingham City Museums and Galleries.

“The strong likelihood is that the burial is of someone killed during the Civil War, and most probably during the siege of September 1643, which would have been a time when burial outside of the castle was not possible.

“We hope to confirm this through excavation and radiocarbon dating.”

Following in the footsteps of the surprise discovery by the Trent Valley Archaeological Research Committee almost 30 years ago, Lomax has consulted a biography of Colonel John Hutchinson, written by the former Governor of Nottingham's wife, Lucy.

“The account details how Royalist prisoners captured during the siege fought with their captors when brought out of a dungeon and the Great Chapel, where they were being held,” he says.

“A fight ensued. During the fight a Parliamentarian captain from Derby was killed and several others injured. It may be that the individual being investigated was the Derby captain.

“Unfortunately we do not know the name of the captain. The Royalist prisoners were eventually released as a prisoner exchange following a skirmish on the eastern side of the town in February 1644.”

The results of radiocarbon dating on the lower skeleton, currently underway at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit at Oxford University, should provide results within a few weeks.

Charles I chose Nottingham as the rallying point for his armies and the raising of his standard, but the castle fell into Parliamentarian hands after his departure, remaining in their control throughout the war.

“The excavation will also aim to investigate part of a medieval building partially exposed in 1978, says Lomax.

“This new excavation should reveal more of the building, which may be associated with the Great Chapel which was built during the medieval period and was used as a prison during the Civil War.

“It will help us better understand the layout of the castle during medieval times. The excavation offers an exciting opportunity to investigate more of this highly significant site, discovering new information about its role during the medieval period, through to the Civil War and into more recent times.”

The planned £24 million transformation of the castle includes a Rebellion Gallery full of stories of rebellion and revolt on the 17th century site.

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Three great castles to see in the East Midlands

Peveril Castle, Derbyshire
Perched high above the pretty village of Castleton, the castle offers breathtaking views of the Peak District. Founded soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066 by William Peverel, one of King William's most trusted knights, it played an important role in guarding the Peak Forest area.

Leicester Castle
The first castle at Leicester was probably built around 1070 either by William the Conqueror or by Hugh de Grandsmesnil, the first Norman lord or castellan of Leicester. The hall was built by Robert le Bossu, the second earl of Leicester and founder of Leicester Abbey.

Oakham Castle, Rutland
The Norman Great Hall of Oakham Castle, a late 12th century fortified manor house, is one of the finest domestic buildings of the period. It stands within walled earthworks, and remains of an earlier motte and bailey castle are also visible. Within, the columns are decorated with sculptures of medieval musicians, and other fine Romanesque carvings survive.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art555813-nottingham-castle-derby-captain-middle-bailey