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30-year wait to analyse bodies of 22 medieval monks goes on
By Cornish Guardian | Posted: February 24, 2016
THE remains of medieval monks discovered in Bodmin more than 30 years ago could end up at Cornwall's flagship museum in Truro.
The skeletons of 22 people which were found beneath the ruins of an ancient monastery in 1985 have been kept in storage due to a lack of funding for detailed analysis.
But if money can be found for experts to undertake a thorough examination of the human remains, they will then be offered to Bodmin Town Museum and the Royal Cornwall Museum.
The skeletons were unearthed during the construction of a nuclear bunker for the former North Cornwall District Council.
During excavation work, the ruins of the Augustinian Priory of St Mary the Virgin and St Petroc, established in 1136, were discovered, along with the remains of people buried there.
The bones have since been kept in boxes by the Cornwall Council's archaeological unit at a storage centre near Redruth.
The unit's project manager, Andrew Young, said little was known about the skeletons because funds had not been made available for the bones to be properly analysed, including the taking of DNA samples.
"What we do know, is that we have the remains of 22 people, dating from probably the late 12th and 13th centuries, including two children," he said. "Given the location of where the bones were found, it is fair to assume some would have been monks.
"But we have no information on their age or gender, because that would require more detailed analysis. If full examinations were carried out, it may even be possible to get some idea of how they died.
"The problem we have had is there has been very little funding available to carry out a proper analysis.
"My predecessor tried several times to gain funding, but was not successful.
"It is something we would be very keen to have done. The minimum needed would be £3,000, but realistically to include radio carbon dating and DNA analysis, that would cost between £5,000 and £10,000."
Mr Young said the archaeologists who recovered the human remains in 1985 had taken great care, adding that medieval pottery had also been found during the excavation.
He added: "Once the human remains are properly analysed they will be offered to the Royal Cornwall Museum and to the museum in Bodmin if there is interest there."
http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Medieval-mystery-unsolved/story-28738839-detail/story.html#1
10 photos with article.
By Cornish Guardian | Posted: February 24, 2016
THE remains of medieval monks discovered in Bodmin more than 30 years ago could end up at Cornwall's flagship museum in Truro.
The skeletons of 22 people which were found beneath the ruins of an ancient monastery in 1985 have been kept in storage due to a lack of funding for detailed analysis.
But if money can be found for experts to undertake a thorough examination of the human remains, they will then be offered to Bodmin Town Museum and the Royal Cornwall Museum.
The skeletons were unearthed during the construction of a nuclear bunker for the former North Cornwall District Council.
During excavation work, the ruins of the Augustinian Priory of St Mary the Virgin and St Petroc, established in 1136, were discovered, along with the remains of people buried there.
The bones have since been kept in boxes by the Cornwall Council's archaeological unit at a storage centre near Redruth.
The unit's project manager, Andrew Young, said little was known about the skeletons because funds had not been made available for the bones to be properly analysed, including the taking of DNA samples.
"What we do know, is that we have the remains of 22 people, dating from probably the late 12th and 13th centuries, including two children," he said. "Given the location of where the bones were found, it is fair to assume some would have been monks.
"But we have no information on their age or gender, because that would require more detailed analysis. If full examinations were carried out, it may even be possible to get some idea of how they died.
"The problem we have had is there has been very little funding available to carry out a proper analysis.
"My predecessor tried several times to gain funding, but was not successful.
"It is something we would be very keen to have done. The minimum needed would be £3,000, but realistically to include radio carbon dating and DNA analysis, that would cost between £5,000 and £10,000."
Mr Young said the archaeologists who recovered the human remains in 1985 had taken great care, adding that medieval pottery had also been found during the excavation.
He added: "Once the human remains are properly analysed they will be offered to the Royal Cornwall Museum and to the museum in Bodmin if there is interest there."
http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Medieval-mystery-unsolved/story-28738839-detail/story.html#1
10 photos with article.