Time Team is heading to Lincoln this October for a brand new, three-day archaeological investigation.
They will be joining forces with local archaeologists and volunteers, in the search for new evidence of one of medieval England's earliest and largest leprosy hospitals.
The dig marks the beginning of the three-year Hidden Histories Unearthed project made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund that will uncover more of the city’s fascinating past, exploring the remains of the medieval Hospital of the Holy Innocents on South Common.
Founded around the late 11th to early 12th century, the Hospital of the Holy Innocents was one of England’s earliest and largest medieval leprosy hospitals and is believed to have remained in use for around five centuries.
The popular archaeology series will be taking part in an excavation linked to the newly launched Hidden Histories Unearthed project, which aims to uncover more about the people who lived, worked and died at the medieval hospital.
The excavation will take place on the north side of South Common, where the team will investigate walls and possible building surfaces discovered during last year’s Local Landscapes and Hidden Histories project.
More than 100 volunteers, aged between four and 85, took part in the pilot project, excavating 41 test pits across South Common. Their work uncovered evidence including boundary walls, building surfaces and medieval artefacts linked to the former hospital.
The new three-year Hidden Histories Unearthed project will build on these discoveries and delve deeper into the history of the site, exploring the stories of the people who lived, worked and died at the hospital.
The first excavation will see a main trench opened over the area where the remains were discovered last year. Further trenches may also be opened depending on the results of geophysical surveys, while around 10 to 15 test pits are expected to be excavated with the help of local volunteers and Time Team Members on Patreon.
Dr Sam Tipper from Anglia Ruskin University and Professor Carenza Lewis from the University of Lincoln’s School of History and Heritage will act as site directors for the excavation.