Skeletons in the Shed (Blythburgh, Suffolk) | S16E13 | Time Team

Nick and Susan Howard moved into their new home in Blythe Bra, Suffolk, where they discovered intriguing historical features in their garden. Among the trees, they found structures resembling a church, hinting at a possible connection to King Henry the First's 12th-century priory. The Time Team has three days to uncover the secrets of this potentially sacred site in East Anglia. The village's unique location, surrounded by salt marshes and dominated by a large church, adds to the mystery. The Howards' house, named 'The Prairie,' and the road 'Prairie Road' are thought to be clues to the site's history. Initial investigations reveal an old chapel with herringbone masonry, suggesting a Roman or Anglo-Saxon period construction, dating around 1100, just before or after the Norman Conquest.

The exploration of the Howards' garden leads to the discovery of what appears to be the remains of a Norman church. The team identifies a glazed floor surface indicative of an early monastic church from the time of William the Conqueror. The dig also uncovers a column, suggesting a more substantial and grand structure than initially anticipated, possibly with a tower and a triforium. The team speculates on the church's layout, considering the presence of a crossing, pillars, and the likelihood of a cloister with surrounding buildings. However, the exact size and shape of the church remain uncertain, and the search for the cloister and other buildings continues.

The team grapples with the complexity of the priory's layout, struggling to find the west end of the church and the east end, where a shrine might be located. Despite geophysical surveys, the location of the cloister remains elusive, and the trenches dug to find it have not yielded clear results. The team also uncovers a range of medieval artifacts, including roof tiles and pottery, which suggest the church was built with recycled materials. Additionally, they find a hollow full of debris that could be a rubbish dump, but it also holds small pieces of valuable information, such as medieval pottery and Roman pantile.

The investigation delves into the possibility that the site may have been a significant religious refuge dating back to prehistoric times, possibly even the burial site of Anglo-Saxon King Anna. The team explores the idea that the priory was built on the site of an earlier church and shrine dedicated to King Anna, and that the site's importance may stretch back to prehistoric times. Despite the challenges, the team remains hopeful of making a significant discovery, such as the shrine of King Anna, which could be a major historical find.

The search for the priory's cloister and church walls continues to be a challenge. The team has opened multiple trenches based on different hypotheses about the layout of the priory, but so far, the results have been inconclusive. While some trenches suggest the possibility of the cloister being on the north side of the church, others indicate it might be on the south side. The team also debates the placement of the church's west entrance and whether the east end of the church has been fully excavated. Despite the uncertainty, the discovery of human remains and the confirmation of a male burial provide some clues about the site's past.

The dig uncovers several human remains, including skulls and other bones, which are analyzed to determine their age and potentially the gender of the individuals. The team discusses the significance of these finds in the context of the priory's history and the possible presence of an Anglo-Saxon monastery. The discovery of a male skull with a prominent nuchal crest and a masculine-looking mandible adds to the intrigue. Additionally, the team reflects on the role of Augustinian priories in the Middle Ages and their connection to aristocratic families and the local community.

The team examines a photographic replica of a whalebone writing tablet found at the site 100 years ago, dating back to the 7th or 8th century. The tablet is significant as it suggests the presence of a royal monastery, or minster, which would have been a center of learning and authority. The find is likened to a modern laptop, indicating the importance of literacy and education at the site. Despite the challenges in locating the 12th-century cloister, the team is excited about the potential historical significance of their findings.

The excavation of the priory church proves to be complex and challenging. The team struggles to make sense of the numerous trenches opened across the site, with each area presenting different findings and posing new questions. While some trenches reveal parts of the church's north wall and medieval artifacts, others yield confusing results. The archaeologists express unease about the lack of expected findings, such as a greater number of human remains and Anglo-Saxon pottery, leading to a sense of bewilderment about the site's history and layout.

The search for the cloisters and the east end of the church intensifies. The team is divided in their theories about the location of the cloisters, with some believing they are on the north side of the church and others on the south side. The excavation uncovers a variety of structures and artifacts, including a large foundation and pottery that may be from the refectory or dining room. However, the team is unable to confirm the presence of the east end of the church or the cloisters, leading to a sense of frustration and the need for further investigation.

Stewart's detective work reveals the extent of the land granted by King Henry the First to the Augustinians for the priory, showing that it dominated the village and did not include the later parish church. The team finds signs of earlier, possibly Saxon, occupation, suggesting that the priory could be situated on an earlier royal minster. The search for King Anna's shrine continues, with the team hoping to find the east wall of the church and the area between the altar and the east wall, which is a classic place for shrines.

The dig concludes with the discovery of a large, impressive Augustinian church that spanned the width of the Howards' garden. The church featured a tower supported by pillars towards the east end and a cloister to the north. Despite the challenges and dead ends, the team was able to piece together the church's layout. Radiocarbon analysis dated the burials to before the construction of the priory, suggesting the presence of an earlier church on the site, possibly the one associated with King Anna. However, the exact location of King Anna's tomb remains a mystery, leaving the team with a sense of awe at the scale of the church and a lingering question about its historical significance.