A significant archaeological discovery has been made beneath the cobbled streets of Richmond’s market place in North Yorkshire, England, during resurfacing works, revealing medieval pits containing bones, clothing, and remnants of past life.
Archaeologists working alongside North Yorkshire highways teams uncovered nine pits, most of which are believed to date back to the medieval period. One waterlogged pit, in particular, contained leather fragments from clothing and shoes, as well as sheep and pig bones. Measuring approximately 50cm deep, 200cm wide, and 300cm long, the pit offers a glimpse into the town’s rich medieval past.
Councillor Keane Duncan, Executive Member for Highways and Transport, described the discovery as “an incredibly fascinating and unexpected” find in the heart of Richmond’s historic market place, which has long been a centre of trade and activity. He added, “We have rightly halted our highways works to allow the archaeologists to carry out a thorough search of the area and see what further secrets they uncover beneath the road.”
While the ongoing work has caused some delays to the resurfacing project, efforts are being made to complete the archaeological search as quickly as possible. “We appreciate this is delaying the resurfacing works taking place on the route through the town centre and apologise for the inconvenience this is causing,” Duncan said.
Peter Rowe, the lead archaeologist, noted the historical significance of the site: “The market place may have originally formed the outer bailey of the castle, which might explain its unusual, semi-circular shape. It has remained the heart of the town from the medieval period onwards and the centre of trade and manufacture.”
The waterlogged conditions of some of the pits have allowed for the preservation of organic materials that would otherwise have decayed, including wooden stakes, leather strips, and a variety of animal bones. A particularly noteworthy find was the burial of a dog, offering a rare glimpse into the life of the town’s medieval inhabitants.
Rowe further explained that these finds are likely from the 14th and 15th centuries and can help reconstruct the bustling atmosphere of Richmond during that time. “The features and finds within them will help us to reconstruct the hustle and bustle of medieval life in this vibrant Yorkshire town.”
In addition to the pits, archaeologists from JB Archaeology also discovered the remains of walls and foundations of long-lost buildings. These findings will continue to be studied over the coming days.
Councillor Stuart Parsons, who represents the Richmond division, expressed excitement about the discoveries. “There has been huge interest in the work of archaeologists over the past few days as the latest discovery confirms the rich history we have in the town,” he said. He added that all finds are expected to be handed over to the Richmondshire Museum for future display.
The resurfacing project was initially scheduled for completion by October 14th, but it remains on hold as archaeologists continue their exploration in the North Yorkshire town.
Top Image: Photo courtesy North Yorkshire Council
A significant archaeological discovery has been made beneath the cobbled streets of Richmond’s market place in North Yorkshire, England, during resurfacing works, revealing medieval pits containing bones, clothing, and remnants of past life.
Archaeologists working alongside North Yorkshire highways teams uncovered nine pits, most of which are believed to date back to the medieval period. One waterlogged pit, in particular, contained leather fragments from clothing and shoes, as well as sheep and pig bones. Measuring approximately 50cm deep, 200cm wide, and 300cm long, the pit offers a glimpse into the town’s rich medieval past.
Councillor Keane Duncan, Executive Member for Highways and Transport, described the discovery as “an incredibly fascinating and unexpected” find in the heart of Richmond’s historic market place, which has long been a centre of trade and activity. He added, “We have rightly halted our highways works to allow the archaeologists to carry out a thorough search of the area and see what further secrets they uncover beneath the road.”
While the ongoing work has caused some delays to the resurfacing project, efforts are being made to complete the archaeological search as quickly as possible. “We appreciate this is delaying the resurfacing works taking place on the route through the town centre and apologise for the inconvenience this is causing,” Duncan said.
Peter Rowe, the lead archaeologist, noted the historical significance of the site: “The market place may have originally formed the outer bailey of the castle, which might explain its unusual, semi-circular shape. It has remained the heart of the town from the medieval period onwards and the centre of trade and manufacture.”
The waterlogged conditions of some of the pits have allowed for the preservation of organic materials that would otherwise have decayed, including wooden stakes, leather strips, and a variety of animal bones. A particularly noteworthy find was the burial of a dog, offering a rare glimpse into the life of the town’s medieval inhabitants.
Rowe further explained that these finds are likely from the 14th and 15th centuries and can help reconstruct the bustling atmosphere of Richmond during that time. “The features and finds within them will help us to reconstruct the hustle and bustle of medieval life in this vibrant Yorkshire town.”
In addition to the pits, archaeologists from JB Archaeology also discovered the remains of walls and foundations of long-lost buildings. These findings will continue to be studied over the coming days.
Councillor Stuart Parsons, who represents the Richmond division, expressed excitement about the discoveries. “There has been huge interest in the work of archaeologists over the past few days as the latest discovery confirms the rich history we have in the town,” he said. He added that all finds are expected to be handed over to the Richmondshire Museum for future display.
The resurfacing project was initially scheduled for completion by October 14th, but it remains on hold as archaeologists continue their exploration in the North Yorkshire town.
Top Image: Photo courtesy North Yorkshire Council
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