Sex, Mischief And Witches: Dark Side Of
Life Discovered In A Medieval Oxford Nunnery
Archaeologists excavating a medieval Benedictine nunnery in Oxford have shed light on the darker side of convent life.
The excavation of the Littlemore Priory, which was founded in 1110 and dissolved in 1525, has revealed nearly 100 skeletons of men, women and children.
Among these are a series of “very unusual burials”, including the remains of a woman buried in the face-down position.
Team leader Paul Murray of John Moore Heritage Services, said in a statement: “This was perhaps a penitential act to atone for their sins or the sins of their families. Her lower legs had been truncated by the later internment of an infant.”
Speaking to the BBC, Murray added: “It’s unusual for someone so young to be buried within the church. And sometimes women found in prone positions are considered to be witches.”
Other remains revealed a victim who was the victim of a blunt force trauma to the back of the head, a stillborn child and a leper.<hr>
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