Archaeologists made a stunning discovery beneath a British university’s property, uncovering hundreds of skeletons and the remains of a medieval church, an unexpected find during a routine excavation.
The University of Gloucestershire revealed in an April 11 press release that the findings were made on its City Campus, a site it acquired in 2021.
Formerly home to a department store, the property is set to open later this year as part of the university’s expansion.
The university commissioned Cotswold Archaeology to conduct an excavation of the site. During their work, archaeologists came across the ruins of St. Aldate’s Church, which dates back to the Middle Ages and was demolished in the mid-1650s.
According to a statement, excavators uncovered “limestone and brick foundations, along with around 83 brick-lined burial vaults both within the church itself and in the associated burial ground.
