Mystery of the York burial: 700-year-old skeletons of a pregnant woman, a foetus and three men found shoved into a grave
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A gruesome set of graves with markings deisgned to ward off evil spirits has been unearthed in All Saints Church in York.
In addition to the bones of three men described as having been 'shoved' into a tomb, were the bones of a foetus and its heavily pregnant mother.
It is believed some of the bodies in the tomb may date back to the early 13th century.
The bones of a foetus (pictured) and its heavily pregnant mother have been found in a chamber of All Saints Church in York, where three men were also found '€œshoved'€ into a tomb with grave markings designed to ward off evil spirits during the early 13th century
The find was made during an archaeological dig at the Lady Chapel in All Saints Church.
The tomb containing the three men was adorned with grave markings that are thought to have been designed to ward off evil spirits.
Aside from the bones, pottery fragments from Roman and Viking times were also uncovered.
'We think of ourselves as York's most archaeologically active church,' Churchwarden Dr Robert Richards told MailOnline.
Dr Richards says the dig began when they decided to restore the Lady Chapel within the church to better understand how it might have looked and functioned centuries ago.
As they dug they came across the unusual tomb that Dr Richards describes as a 'surprise.'
'We didn't expect to find such a big tomb,' he says.
As soon as they found the tomb, chemists took sample to reveal the origin of the bodies, with preliminary estimates dating them back to 13th century.
The discovery of the tomb was made in the Lady Chapel at All Saints Church in York during a planned archaeological dig for restoration work. Pictured is the tomb with the pregnant woman (left) and the tiered burial of three men (right)
On one tomb were found markings believed to be a 'lucky charm' intended to ward off evil spirits, a piece of Christian symbolism dating back to the 13th Century
Within the tomb the pregnant woman was buried in the North Chamber, and the three men in South Chamber.
ANOTHER STRANGE BURIAL
In April a skeleton of an Iron Age woman was found in West Knoyle, Wiltshire.
She was found alongside a child and two males with sword wounds.
The carcasses of sheep and goats were also found on her head.
It was most likely a ritual burial to stop her rising from the dead.
'Chopping off whole feet is something done after death to stop them haunting you,' Dr Giles explained.
'It looks like a sort of rite designed to prevent her rising and becoming a member of the walking dead.'
The men were found 'shoved' into the tomb, buried on top of one another, possibly to provide more space for further burials.
The woman, meanwhile, was found with the bones of the dead foetus inside her.
All the bones were restored to their original resting place once they had been examined.
On the tomb was a symbol known as a 'daisy wheel,' which is a good luck charm to ward off evil spirits.
Speaking to MailOnline Dr Melanie Giles, a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Manchester, offered some insight on the burials.
'I would think the 'daisy wheel' apotropaic symbol may relate to those who have died in unfortunate circumstances,' she says.
'Given that Christ is often described as the sun, and the 'daisy wheel' is often seen as a solar symbol as well (regeneration, potency, rebirth) this may have been seen as a very fitting addition to the cross on the slabs,' she adds.
'The displaced bodies may simply be due to squashing some up to make more space - this was a prestigious place to be buried, within the church, close to the altar.
'Perhaps they were of high status?'
Dr Richards, meanwhile, speculates that they 'could have been the end of a family line.'
The exact circumstances through which the bodies came to be in these tombs, however, will likely remain somewhat of a mystery.
Members of the public hoping to get a glimpse of some of the finds can attend an event at the church on 19 July 2014.
Aside from the bodies, ancient serviceable drains, pottery fragments (pictured) dating from Roman times to the 18th century, entrenched Viking pottery and Anglian pieces with possible links to the baptism of St Edwin, the 7th century King of Northumbria were found. Pictured are supposed paint pots
The dig at All Saints Church is being carried out by York Arahceological Trust and documentary TV programme Archaeology Live!, who began on Monday 31 March. Work will continue into October with more artifacts from Roman, Viking and other times expected to be found
All Saints church has served Christians of York since the 12th century. On their website they describe their liturgy as 'unashamedly traditional' and they 'draw strength from words and ceremonials we have come to know by heart'
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