60 archeologists are currently digging at 3 ,000 graves in London’s most important 16th or 17th-century cemetery, the Bedlam burial site at Liverpool Street. Six days a week, they will work in shifts. Crossrail Ltd. (CRL) will be carrying out excavations on their behalf. Crossrail is a 73 miles (118km) rail line currently under construction in London. From 1569 up to 1738,, this burial ground served as a cemetery during the British Empire’s emergence, civil wars and Shakespeare’s plays. It also saw the outbreak of several plague epidemics. The scientists will conduct their testing and the bones will then be reburied on a sacred burial ground. Crossrail: The last Great Plague in London occurred 350 many years ago in 1665.. By testing the victims excavated, archeologists hope to discover more about how the plague bacteria evolved. Jay Carver is Crossrail’s chief archaeologist. He said that the excavation offers a rare opportunity to study and understand how 16th, and 17th-century Londoners. This fascinating period of London’s history is covered by the Bedlam burial grounds. It was used by many people from all walks of society and different parts of London. (Image from Crossrail) According to the archaeological team, it is interested in learning more about migration patterns and lifestyles of Londoners at that time. MOLA’s osteologists (scientists who specialize in bone) will perform a test on excavated bones, and then they will be buried in a sacred burial ground. Roman ruins beneath the burial ground. Archeologists will continue to excavate for four more weeks. After that, archeologists will be collecting medieval marsh deposits and Roman remains. Archeologists discovered a Roman road that runs underneath the Bedlam burial grounds. This has led to some fascinating artifacts such as horseshoes and cremation urns. The archeologists expect to finish their excavations on September. After that, contractor Laing O’Rourke is going to build the eastern ticket hall. The site has four levels to be dug: Victorian sewers and foundations. 2. Bedlam burial ground 3. Medieval Moorfields marsh. 4. Roman suburbs. Crossrail: Crossrail released a statement saying that the company plans to host a series of events for the public over the next few months. This will enable them to share all the information about exciting discoveries that were made during the excavations at Liverpool Street. Londoners did not have the money or political reasons to use it. As a ‘overflow’ burial ground, it was used in cases of severe plague when other sites were unable to cope. Bedlam is said to have been the burial place of famous Levellers in the 17th Century, like John Lilburne and Robert Lockyer. The Levellers were part of an English Civil war political movement that advocated extended suffrage and equality before the law. So far, Crossrail has found more than 10,000 artefacts spanning a period of 55 million years of London’s past across more than 40 construction sites. This is the largest archaeological project in the country. Crossrail video: Crossrail Archaeology Crossrail Lead Archaeologist Jay Carver shares an overview of the excavation that will take place on Liverpool Street.
