The remains of a medieval house and cesspit that it is thought could date to the 13th century were discovered by workmen in Conwy in May, it has been revealed. The site, unearthed about 100 metres from Conwy Castle, could provide more details about the town before 1401, when it is believed to have been burnt to the ground by English forces.
Ashley Batten, senior planning archaeologist with the Gwynedd Archaeological Planning Service, said: “The key thing is the remains are deeply stratified remains. There are lots of layers of activity, as you would expect in an urban area. It gives us an insight into medieval Conwy which may predate the Glyndwyr revolts.”
Ancient royal tomb unearthed in Peru
Archaeologists in Peru have uncovered a royal tomb thought to date from the Wari empire approximately 1,200 years ago. The site, in El Castillo de Huarmey, north of Lima, features the remains of more than 60 people including at least three members of Wari royalty.
British Museum attracts ‘record numbers’ of visitors
The British Museum in London has attracted record numbers of visitors so far in 2013, with 1.7m people passing through its doors since the start of April. The institution’s annual report, published this week, cited exhibitions exploring Pompeii and Herculaneum and Ice Age art as contributing particularly strongly to attendance numbers.
Gloucester medieval penny bought for £2,000
A 930-year-old silver coin found in a field near Gloucester has been bought by the city’s council for £2,000. The penny, which features the name of local moneyer Silacwine and is the first known evidence of coins being minted in the area in the years between 1077 and 1080, is set to go on display in Gloucester City Museum.
Facial reconstruction of Mary, Queen of Scots goes on display
A reconstruction of the face of Mary, Queen of Scots created in an attempt to help fill in for a significant absence of portraits during her time on the Scottish throne has gone on display at the National Museum of Scotland. The depiction, based on existing paintings as well as other details about her life, shows the queen as it is thought that she would have appeared when she was around 25 years old.
Isle of Man Viking silver declared ‘treasure trove’
Three silver artefacts found in a field on the Isle of Man and thought to date from between 930 and 1080 AD have been declared treasure trove. The two ingots and brooch fragment, discovered in the village of Andreas in April, are believed to contain more than 60 per cent silver.
Egyptian statue ‘moves’ in Manchester museum
Manchester Museum has attracted record numbers of visitors after a time-lapse video showing an Egyptian statue apparently moving of its own accord became popular online. The 10-inch-tall figure of Neb-Senu, which dates back to 1,800 BC, has been recorded rotating anti-clockwise in a locked cabinet despite not having been touched for 80 years. Scientists believe that the movement may be caused by the vibrations of visitors’ feet.
Image credits: © British Museum (Ice Age artefact); Wilkinson/Aitken University of Dundee (Mary, Queen of Scots)