Westminster Abbey's Hidden History
Archaeology|July/August 2018

Far above the royal pomp and circumstance, archaeologists unexpectedly discover seven centuries of England’s past

Jason Urbanus
Westminster Abbey's Hidden History

WESTMINSTER ABBEY IS one of the most famous buildings in Christendom. It has stood witness to signal events, serving as the site of English coronations for almost one thousand years, hosting dozens of royal weddings and funerals, and containing the tombs of monarchs, poets, scientists, and countless other notable Britons. Recently, it was the site of an unusual archaeological dig. The excavations did not take place outside on the Abbey’s grounds, as might be expected, but instead in the triforium— an arcaded gallery some 70 feet above the nave, or central aisle.

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