900-year-old castle under the prison yard

Researchers found traces of a medieval castle beneath the prison yard in Gloucester, England, to help reveal the royal architecture that once existed in the city.

According to the Huffington Post, when examining the area for a prison planning project, Cotswold Archeology research team unearthed the wall of the tower of the 12th-century castle with nearly 900 artifacts, including ones. Ceramic pieces and dice made from intact bones. They announced the findings on December 7.

Archaeologists unearth the wall of the castle.(Photo: Mark Price).

"We were surprised by what we found. We knew there was a castle but most of it was destroyed. We are still exploring Gloucester history, and this is a reminder of heritage. rich of the city, ' said Neil Holbrook, an archaeologist and director of Cotswold Archeology.

Gloucester is home to two medieval castles. The first castle was built east of the prison area and replaced with a new stone castle in 1110. The newly discovered castle was about the size of a tower in the London tower complex, according to Holbrook. The castle was destroyed in 1787 and no one saw its walls during the past 200 years.

A set of bone dice found in the excavation area.(Photo: Mark Price).

In 1791, Gloucester prison received the first prisoner and the ruins of the castle buried beneath the prison. Archaeologists say the new findings will be analyzed and protected until prison planning takes place.