Could 13th-century mass graves hold evidence of a global volcanic catastrophe?
In short: Archaeologists excavating an East London priory discovered far more human remains than expected. These mid-13th-century emergency burial pits might not just tell a story of local hardship, but could provide the first archaeological evidence of a massive, worldwide volcanic event.
Between 1999 and 2002, the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) conducted excavations at the site of St Mary Spital, an Augustinian priory and hospital in East London. Originally known as St Mary without Bishopsgate, the institution was first mentioned in 1197, having been founded by Walter and Roisia Brunus. The priory served as a vital charitable hub, caring for the elderly, the homeless, pilgrims, and the sick. In the medieval mindset, physical illness was often viewed as a reflection of spiritual neglect or sin, meaning the priory's primary mission was to tend to the soul as much as the body.
The excavation focused on a burial ground located just north of the priory. This cemetery functioned as an emergency overflow for the City of London and was used by both the city and the priory until the Dissolution. While archaeologists initially estimated they would find roughly 4,000 skeletons, the reality was much more staggering. The team recovered approximately 10,500 human skeletons, and based on burial density and the cemetery's total area, researchers suggest the original burial population may have been around 18,000 individuals.
The sheer scale of these mass burials, dating to the mid-13th century, has led researchers to investigate a more profound cause for such sudden mortality. These results could represent the initial physical proof of a worldwide volcanic disaster. While many skeletons were likely lost to the construction of a Victorian market, the surviving remains provide a grim window into a period of intense, concentrated death occurring just outside London's city walls.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Mass Burials from St Mary Spital, London - Don Walker
- Also: Mass Burials from St Mary Spital, London
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