The Augustinian nunnery of St Mary Clerkenwell, London: Excavations 1974-96

The development of the nunnery site is revealed in this study – from evidence for Iron Age occupation, the nunnery’s foundation in 1144 and the expansion of the early convent, through to its conversion in the 16th and 17th centuries to a close of large mansions surrounding the parish church. Drawing together the varied evidence, including illustrations made during the demolition of the nunnery church in 1788–9 and 18th-century surveys, has allowed detailed reconstructions of the church and cloister. Relatively wealthy, located in London’s medieval suburbs and with a dual role as convent and parish church, St Mary’s story contrasts with that of many other, poorer and more rural, nunneries

Making Choices: Valletta, Development, Archaeology and Society

The European Archaeological Council's working group on 'Making Choices' conducted a survey of EAC member states about the ways in which they make decisions in archaeological heritage management with particular reference to development-led archaeological investigation. The driver for this is the belief that the approaches to development-led archaeology need to be more transparent and proportional to ensure continued state and developer/investor support. Based on a significant response (73%) the survey gave a very useful insight into the way in which archaeological sites are defined and inventorised, the processes by which development-led investigations are designed, the means by which information is published and results (and collections) archived, and the means by which the public are engaged in the process. The survey identified three key areas where choice-making is very much in the hands of the professional practice. These are: developing a clearer understanding of the significance of protected archaeological sites in the context of Valletta, assessing sensitivity to change for any sites proposed for development, and the design of the investigation itself. In addition, the survey revealed a clear interest in developing better ways of advocating the public value of development-led archaeology. This article summarises the issues raised in the survey and concludes that the most useful ways in which EAC could help its members would be through the preparation of guidance, case studies or toolkits — regardless of what legal or statutory structures are in operation in a given state — on the following subjects: understanding and articulating significance, developing national and regional research frameworks into which new excavations might be integrated, articulating the public value of archaeological investigation and developing better approaches to archaeological archives

Medieval Monastic Cemeteries of Britain (1050-1600): a digital resource and database of excavated samples

In 1999 the Arts and Humanities Research Board (now Council) awarded a major research grant to Prof Roberta Gilchrist at the University of Reading to direct a national survey of medieval burial practice through the detailed study of excavated cemetery samples, primarily from religious houses. This detailed survey was undertaken by Research Fellow Barney Sloane, and covered the period c 1050 - 1600 CE. All forms of religious house were considered, and some comparanda from emergency cemeteries, parochial cemeteries, cathedral cemeteries and Jewish cemeteries were also gathered. Where the data permitted, digital plans of each cemetery were compiled, and a relational database constructed to capture all variable attributes of grave cut, skeletal demography, burial container, and artefacts associated with the burial

Excavations at the priory of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, Clerkenwell, London

The Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem was formed to support pilgrimages to Jerusalem and run a great hospital there. A house of the Order was founded in Clerkenwell in 1144. It became the Order's only priory in England, and its headquarters here. Archaeology shows that the religious house evolved into a sumptuous palatial complex very different from a normal monastic institution. This volume looks at the priory sequence, including the round-naved church, cemetery, Great Hall, gatehouse, and an outer precinct housing financial officials. Thematic chapters consider the foundation, architecture, living standards and Dissolution of the priory

Excavations at the priory and hospital of St Mary Spital, London

In 1197, a modest hospital was founded on the fringes of the City of London. It grew to become one of the most significant institutions for the care of London's sick poor in medieval times. Exactly 800 years later, following extensive archaeological excavations and research, the Museum of London Archaeology Service has produced this volume describing the hospital of St Mary Spital, Bishopsgate. A new approach has been taken to archaeological reporting: all the strands of evidence have been synthesised together to provide a single chronological account of the priory and hospital. This has been designed to produce a fuller account of the site in a more readable format, and to allow current research debates to be addressed in a series of thematic sections. These thematic essays provide insights into topics such as the hospital buildings, the way of life and diet of the inhabitants and the hospital's role in London. The environment of the site is also discussed as are 126 excavated human skeletons. The reuse of the site after the Dissolution of the monasteries is also described. The report is supported by 114 illustrations including photographs and drawings of finds varying from complete ceramic, glass and wooden vessels to items such as leather boots and gold rings

Early modern industry and settlement: excavations at George Street, Richmond, and High Street, Mortlake, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Evidence of early modern settlement and industry from sites in Richmond and Mortlake demonstrates the archaeological potential of north Surrey’s small towns and their rapid growth. At George Street, Richmond, properties were subdivided throughout the 17th century and occupied by people of modest means. Excavations between Mortlake High Street and the Thames uncovered significant evidence of industries, including a pre-1682 wharf, a tapestry works (1619–1703), a sugar house (1743), pot houses (1743–1830), malt houses (1791 and 1830), a shoeing smithy, and a First World War factory. An important assemblage of 18th-century tin-glazed pottery is described in an illustrated catalogue

Methods for calculating credible intervals for ratios of beta distributions with application to relative risks of death during the second plague pandemic

<div><p>Employing historical records we are able to estimate the risk of premature death during the second plague pandemic, and identify the <i>Black Death</i> and <i>pestis secunda</i> epidemics. We show a novel method of calculating Bayesian credible intervals for a ratio of beta distributed random variables and use this to quantify uncertainty of relative risk estimates for these two epidemics which we consider in a 2 × 2 contingency table framework.</p></div

Detection and characterisation of Black Death burials by multi-proxy geophysical methods

The construction of the new Crossrail railway discovered 25 well preserved skeletons shallowly buried in Central London in 2013. Subsequent carbon dating and aDNA analysis confirmed the archaeological age and presence of the Yersinia pestis “Black Death” plague epidemic strain. Here we present the non-invasive multi-proxy geophysical survey of the adjacent Charterhouse Square, rapidly undertaken to detect any further burials and characterise the site. Historical records suggested the area was a burial ground for Black Death plague victims, before subsequent cemetery and urban land use. Following initial trial surveys, surveys imaged ∼200 isolated and similar-sized burials in the south-west of the site. There were also two contrasting burial orientations present at various depths which suggested a series of controlled phased burials. A well-defined eastern burial boundary, taking the form of a ditch and bank, was also discovered. Geophysical surveys also identified a subsequent complex site history with multiple-aged features. This study revises knowledge of Black Death aged-burials and provides important implications for successful geophysical burial detection with significant time- and space-limited site constraints