Mystery man in the mud: 500-year-old skeleton found in the River Thames
A 500-year-old skeleton wearing high-quality leather boots has been recovered from an excavation site in London’s River Thames.
Archaeologists made the mysterious discovery at Tideway’s Chambers Wharf in Bermondsey, where a 25km-long tideway tunnel is being constructed to prevent future pollution in the River Thames.
Although the cause of death is unknown, the skeleton was found lying face-down in a position suggesting that it’s owner most likely fell and drowned before being covered in thick mud by Thames tidal movements.
The skeleton was found buried with its boots intact. AAP
AAP
Researches said that the Thames was a dangerous place to work throughout the medieval period and that skeleton was not deliberately buried.
After initial examination, researchers believe that the man was around 35 years old and worked on or around the river.
Although the cause of death is unknown, the skeleton was found lying face-down in a position suggesting that it’s owner most likely fell and drowned before being covered in thick mud by Thames tidal movements.
AAP
His steel-soled leather boots could be pulled up to thigh height and would have been perfect for wading through water and thick mud, found in the Thames.
Grooves also found in the man’s teeth suggested that the man regularly passed a rope between them, a habit adopted by fisherman, sailors and mudlarks throughout the 14th and 15th century.
