News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

thornton-abbey-skeletons-main_article_image.jpg
PA
UK News

Black Death mass grave found at abbey

by Aaron James

Archaeologists from the University of Sheffield made the discovery at Thornton Abbey near Immingham and have called it "extremely rare".

They said the presence of such a large burial site at the abbey - where more than half of the skeletons were children's ones - suggests the community was overwhelmed by the Black Death and left unable to cope with the number of people who died.

The Black Death was one of the worst pandemics in human history. It devastated European populations from 1346 to 1353 and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people.

The disease is documented to have reached Lincolnshire in the spring of 1349.

PA
PA

The team said they sent teeth samples from the skeletons to McMaster University in Canada where ancient DNA was successfully extracted from the tooth pulp. DNA tests revealed the presence of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague.

Dr Hugh Willmott, from Sheffield University's Department of Archaeology, said: "The finding of a previously unknown and completely unexpected mass burial dating to this period in a quiet corner of rural Lincolnshire is thus far unique, and sheds light into the real difficulties faced by a small community ill-prepared to face such a devastating threat."

The project will feature on the BBC's Digging For Britain programme on December 13.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate