Archaeologists Stumble Upon Medieval Village While Digging Under a Highway In England
The remains from a medieval village have been discovered in Norfolk, England, and researchers are ecstatic. The team from National Highways, who were doing construction on the major highway, A47, found the settlement, as reported by Popular Mechanics. The settlement was situated between the villages of North Tuddenham and Easton. After the discovery, archaeologists from Headland Archeology were called to the site, and they discovered multiple intriguing artifacts from the location. These objects included pottery, stone carvings, hunting and battle weapons, animal remains, decorative buckles, and a bone flute, among other rare items. In total, the archaeologists had gathered around 65 pounds (30 kilograms) of material. These items indicated that the place was once a bustling establishment.
Unexpected Finding
The discovery was unexpected for workers, as the main objective of National Highways was to renovate the A47 and other major roadways in England. These renovations are being done to ensure increased safety for civilians. National Highways' A47 project leader Chris Griffin claims that the project has provided an additional opportunity for authorities to explore the rich legacy of the country, and at present, Norfolk, where the A47 is located, as reported by the Eastern Daily Press. "When we started the work, we wanted to make sure we brought in the expertise to add one more piece to the historical puzzle of the landscape," Griffin shared about his steps after the discovery. "These finds will help us understand the past and learn about who we are today."
Norfolk's Rich History
The villages were found in Norfolk, which boasts a vast history spanning several periods. Such a massive discovery helps experts add more chapters to the already complex historical saga of this place. Before the discovery of the villages, archaeologists had found artifacts from prehistoric times, the Anglo-Saxon period, and the Roman period. As soon as the remains of the villages were uncovered, archaeologists reached the spot with heavy equipment and hand tools to accurately understand what the state of affairs was in the place during the medieval period. The numerous findings aligned with past assertions that the population was flourishing during that period, due to advancements in technology and prosperity brought on by farming. The findings were not all deemed to be memories of a good time by researchers, as some objects reflected the consequences of a traumatic event.
Empty Villages
In the medieval ages, Norfolk faced a climate change event called the "medieval warm period." During this event, the environment got warmer and wetter. These changes disrupted farming and caused many crops to fail. Repeated failures drove the population to famine and disease. Soon, the Black Death enveloped the area, in which 60% of the total population was wiped out, completely transforming the establishment. "So, these villages, which would have been recognizable all the way through the landscape like little hamlets, disappeared as people fled to urban settlements, leaving them behind," Kate Bane, Project Manager at Headland Archaeology, explained. Some of the artifacts collected from the site went on display in the National Highway's stall at the Royal Norfolk Show on June 25 and 26.