• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • WATCH NEWS
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
  • ABOUT
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
      • Job Openings
    • Contact WSFX
      • Sales & Programming
  • Welcome Home
  • Go With The Pros
  • Medically Speaking
  • Wilmington Eats

Fox Wilmington WSFX-TV

Wilmington, NC | Local news Weather and Sports

  • Local News
    • Unsung Heroes
      • Nominate an Unsung Hero
  • Coronavirus
  • Local Weather
  • National
  • Sports
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Panthers Game Schedule
  • Politics
    • NC Voter Information
  • Health
  • MORE…
    • Entertainment
      • What’s on TV?
    • Technology
    • Science
    • Lifestyle
    • What’s Happening Wilmington

Medieval shrine discovered in mysterious UK cave

April 8, 2020 By James Rogers

Rail workers in the U.K. have discovered a mysterious cave containing the remains of a medieval shrine.

The discovery was made after a landslide near Guildford in southern England. Rail workers making repairs uncovered the shallow sandstone cave, which contained carvings and engravings thought to date back to the 14th century.

Experts from Archaeology South-East went to the cave and analyzed the site, which is thought to be a shrine or hermitage linked to the nearby medieval church of St. Catherine.

“The cave contained what appear to be shrines or decorative niches, together with carved initials and other markings,” a spokesperson for Archaeology South-East said in a statement.

MEDIEVAL ‘QUEEN’S HEAD’ CARVING DISCOVERED

The main niche is 2.3 feet high and a Calvary Cross is carved nearby. Black marks on the ceiling of the cave are thought to be soot from medieval lamps.

The cave was discovered by rail workers following a landslide.
(Archaeology South-East)

Archaeologists think that the site may also be linked to cult activity that pre-dates the nearby church of St. Catherine.

“The old name for St Catherine’s Hill is Drakehull ‘The Hill of the Dragon,’ so this has obviously been a site of ritual significance long before the construction of the church on the top of the hill in the late 13th century,” the spokesperson said. “Work is under way to [analyze] soot and charcoal found inside the cave, which will hopefully tell us more about how and when it was used.”

The U.K. continues to shed new light on its rich history. Last year, for example, a medieval stone carving of a 12th-century queen was discovered at an Abbey in southern England.

BIZARRE MEDIEVAL ‘TRIPLE TOILET SEAT’ REVEALED

Archaeologists abseiled to the cave. (Archaeology South-East)

Last year, workers preparing to lay new water pipes also discovered a gruesome ancient burial site in Oxfordshire.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The main niche within the cave. (Archaeology South-East)

In 2017, archaeologists in London uncovered the lost remains of Greenwich Palace, the birthplace of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

Filed Under: Science

Primary Sidebar

 

Follow Us On Facebook



TRENDING NOW

Here’s your chance to give back on #GivingTuesday

New York Times guest essay calls for liberals to bypass ‘broken’ Constitution, make it more ‘amendable’

2nd man charged in Wake County deputy’s murder; 1 suspect appears in court, DA says

Funeral held for Wake County deputy in Raleigh

Sunken German World War II ships revealed with Danube River at record low

Alec Baldwin spotted in the Hamptons as ‘Rust’ investigation heats up

Footer

PUBLIC FILE INFO

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact Isabella Gano by phone at
(910) 343-8826 or by email at Isabella.gano@foxwilmington.com

 
 » WSFX FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning

 

  • Home
  • WATCH NEWS
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
  • ABOUT
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
      • Job Openings
    • Contact WSFX
      • Sales & Programming
  • Welcome Home
  • Go With The Pros
  • Medically Speaking
  • Wilmington Eats

 

  • Local News
    • Unsung Heroes
      • Nominate an Unsung Hero
  • Coronavirus
  • Local Weather
  • National
  • Sports
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Panthers Game Schedule
  • Politics
    • NC Voter Information
  • Health
  • MORE…
    • Entertainment
      • What’s on TV?
    • Technology
    • Science
    • Lifestyle
    • What’s Happening Wilmington

Copyright © 2022 · American Spirit Media LLC · WSFX TV · Wilmington NC · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy