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Beckery Chapel near Glastonbury 'earliest known UK monastic life' | Beckery Chapel near Glastonbury 'earliest known UK monastic life' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Skeletons unearthed at a site said to have been visited by King Arthur are the oldest example of monks ever found in the UK, archaeologists have said. | Skeletons unearthed at a site said to have been visited by King Arthur are the oldest example of monks ever found in the UK, archaeologists have said. |
Carbon dating revealed the remains, discovered at medieval Beckery Chapel, near Glastonbury, were from the 5th or early 6th Century AD. | Carbon dating revealed the remains, discovered at medieval Beckery Chapel, near Glastonbury, were from the 5th or early 6th Century AD. |
Site director Dr Richard Brunning said: "It's the earliest archaeological evidence we've got for monasticism." | Site director Dr Richard Brunning said: "It's the earliest archaeological evidence we've got for monasticism." |
Beckery was excavated in May by the South West Heritage Trust. | Beckery was excavated in May by the South West Heritage Trust. |
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The team found about 50 to 60 skeletons, most of whom were adult male, apart from two juveniles thought to be novice monks. | The team found about 50 to 60 skeletons, most of whom were adult male, apart from two juveniles thought to be novice monks. |
A female skeleton is believed to have been a visiting nun or patron. | A female skeleton is believed to have been a visiting nun or patron. |
Mr Brunning said the balance of male and female remains and the new scientific evidence meant there was little doubt the burial ground had been a monastic cemetery. | Mr Brunning said the balance of male and female remains and the new scientific evidence meant there was little doubt the burial ground had been a monastic cemetery. |
It predates Iona Abbey in Scotland, founded in the late 6th Century, and nearby Glastonbury Abbey, which dates from the 7th. | It predates Iona Abbey in Scotland, founded in the late 6th Century, and nearby Glastonbury Abbey, which dates from the 7th. |
The earliest monks died in the 5th or early 6th centuries AD with burials taking place at Beckery until the early 9th Century AD. | The earliest monks died in the 5th or early 6th centuries AD with burials taking place at Beckery until the early 9th Century AD. |
"It would have been very small, we're only talking about a small number of monks there at any one time, effectively it's like a large hermitage", explained Mr Brunning. | "It would have been very small, we're only talking about a small number of monks there at any one time, effectively it's like a large hermitage", explained Mr Brunning. |
"It's on a small island just off Glastonbury so it's surrounded by the wetlands and cut off from normal life, that's probably why it's based there. | "It's on a small island just off Glastonbury so it's surrounded by the wetlands and cut off from normal life, that's probably why it's based there. |
"There are a few rudimentary buildings made of wattle and daub, so nothing grand made of stone." | "There are a few rudimentary buildings made of wattle and daub, so nothing grand made of stone." |
Further tests are planned to establish if the inhabitants were local or came from further afield. | Further tests are planned to establish if the inhabitants were local or came from further afield. |
Experts believe use of the site ended when the Vikings invaded later in the 9th Century AD and attacked Somerset. | Experts believe use of the site ended when the Vikings invaded later in the 9th Century AD and attacked Somerset. |
The chapel is connected to legendary visits by King Arthur, who is said to have seen a vision of Mary Magdalene and the baby Jesus there. | The chapel is connected to legendary visits by King Arthur, who is said to have seen a vision of Mary Magdalene and the baby Jesus there. |