Bodies in the Well

[Melvadius]

In an article linked to the new BBC series of 'History Cold Case' the BBC are carrying a report on the outcome of research following the discovery in 2004 of a group of seventeen bodies at the bottom of a well in Norwich:

 

The remains of 17 bodies found at the bottom of a medieval well in England could have been victims of persecution, new evidence has suggested.

 

 

The most likely explanation is that those down the well were Jewish and were probably murdered or forced to commit suicide, according to scientists who used a combination of DNA analysis, carbon dating and bone chemical studies in their investigation.

 

The skeletons date back to the 12th or 13th Centuries at a time when Jewish people were facing persecution throughout Europe.

 

 

 

They were discovered in 2004 during an excavation of a site in the centre of Norwich, ahead of construction of the Chapelfield Shopping Centre. The remains were put into storage and have only recently been the subject of investigation.

 

History Cold Case: The Bodies in a Well will be on BBC Two at 2100 BST on Thursday 23 June 2011 and afterwards in the UK on BBC iPlayer.