Posted on 12/01/2005 6:10:40 PM PST by blam
Radar pinpoints tomb of King Edward the Confessor
By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
(Filed: 02/12/2005)
The ancient tomb of Edward the Confessor, one of the most revered of British saints, has been discovered under Westminster Abbey 1,000 years after his birth.
The original burial chamber of the Anglo-Saxon king, who died in 1066, months before the invasion of William the Conqueror, was revealed by archaeologists using the latest radar technology.
The existence of a number of royal tombs dating back to the 13th and 14th century was also discovered beneath the abbey, the venue for nearly all coronations since 1066.
The forgotten, sub-terranean chambers were located during conservation work on the abbey's medieval Cosmati mosaic pavement around the high altar.
Dr Warwick Rodwell, the abbey's consultant archaeologist, said the find was "extraordinarily exciting".
Until now archaeologists had assumed that the original tomb of Edward the Confessor was near the present high altar, because medieval records referred to him being buried there. It has now emerged, however, that the position of the altar was moved by Henry III in the mid 13th century. The archaeologists have located the original tomb 10 feet behind the present altar, under the shrine built by Henry III in 1269, which still contains the remains of the saint.
"We have never been able to locate the original tomb of Edward until now," said Dr Rodwell. "The Victorians tried to find out more about what tombs were under here, but they simply did not have the technology to do it. The mystery around the location of the crypt has been running for many years. Every day brings new insights and new facts." Dr Rodwell said an archaeological team had been examining the construction of the Cosmati pavement, which dates from 1268, using a very high-frequency radar to a depth of about 20 inches. The power of the radar was intensified to examine deeper sections of the pavement.
"Little did we expect that, by using a lower frequency radar, we would find chambers, vaults and foundations of such fascinating historical interest and dating back to the very founding of the abbey, over a millennium ago," said Dr Rodwell.
There are no plans to excavate the tomb because any such work would destroy the medieval pavement.
The discovery, made in October, has delighted the abbey as it has been marking Edward the Confessor's anniversary with a series of events.
Although not among the better known kings - his reign was relatively peaceful - his presence in British history has endured.
The principal royal crown is still called St Edward's crown, and the Coronation Chair is sometimes called St Edward's chair, even though both were made long after his death.
The son of Ethelred the Unready and Emma, the daughter of Richard I of Normandy, his family was exiled to Normandy after the Danish invasion of 1013 and he was largely educated there.
When his half brother, Hardecanute, died in 1042, he was acclaimed king. On his death he was succeeded by Harold, who was killed at the Battle of Hastings nine months later.
Edward's reputation for sanctity grew after the Norman conquest, and he was canonised by Pope Alexander III in 1161.
Edward was patron saint of England for more than four centuries, until 1415 when he was replaced by St George.
The archaeological team is now preparing further investigations to establish the purpose, history and content of the main tomb and the other chambers, graves and coffins they have found.
The Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Wesley Carr, said: "It is another reminder of how abbey history and humanity are packed together."
You're thinking of Edward I, son of Henry III, I believe, aka Edward Longshanks, aka Edward the Hammer of the Scots.
There's a plaque in the floor near the altar where he used to be buried, before Charles II's men dug it up, hanged it, beheaded it, and if I'm not mistaken, burned the body. There's no body left to find.
ping
"Good. Now what's in the basement at Rosalyn Chapel?"
The Holy Grail of Course!
Wondrous things.
I read years ago that Edward the Confessor was an albino. Anyone know if this is true?
it was either in a Ripley's BELIEVE IT OR NOT book or Elsie Hix's book STRANGE AS IT SEEMS.
I've got an ancestor that was dispatched in a like manner for the regicide of Charles I.
"I understand the Welsh and Scots didn't think so highly of him."
The Welsh and Scots don't think so highly of anything to do with England, except maybe for the doles so many of them gladly accept.
Goodwine And Edward The Confessor
Did You Know?
Emma of Normandy was the mother of two English kings:
* Edward the Confessor and Harthacnut
* Edward the Confessor was albino.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
"Edward was probably responsible for the Norman invasion in October of 1066 having promised succession to William of Normandy as well as to Harold."
:') The story was, Harold had been shipwrecked in Normandy, and had agreed to support William's claim to the throne (which was pretty much non-existent) should this ever come up. The story is and was complete hokum, contrived as part of the supporting myth for William's usurpation.
Oh, dig it up, you English fuddy-duddies. It's history we're talking about here, not your precious tile floors!
Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built Westminster Abbey and was later made a saint because of his strong Christian faith. His shrine here became an important place of pilgrimage. Sick people would come and kneel in the recess around its base so as to be near the body of the saint.
Ping.
"I don't hate the English. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are colonized by wankers." -- Mike Renton, "Trainspotting"
They didn't burn it. They supposedly interred the dismembered torso under Tyburn gallows, along with the remains of his fellow "conspirators." But there remains some doubt, at least in some peoples' minds, as to whether the body of Cromwell was even among those disinterred after the Restoration.
Is he sitting in the Comfy Chair?
Wasn't William the Conqueror the one who was so fat that his bloated corpse burst open in Westminster Abby and filled the place with noxious odor during his funeral?
Westminster Abbey is the most moving place I have ever been, especially the Chapel of the Confessor and the Tomb of the Unknown. Such an amazing amount of history there.
Who says history is boring? LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.