Archaeologists have found medieval graffiti deep-carved into Lincoln Cathedral

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Archaeologists will look to complete missing parts of the history of the 11th century Lincoln Cathedral after finding two bodies and medieval graffiti

Medieval graffiti on the side of Lincoln Cathedral showing hand-carved Daisy Wheels typical of religious sites could have been etched by stonemasons as part of a protection ritual around 700 years ago, say archaeologists.

Ancient leaders at the Bishop of Lincoln’s gothic seat took a favourable view of graffiti, according to experts who discovered early mortar and construction debris alongside two burials - one identified as female - at the site. Both skeletons have been left in situ.

“We are particularly impressed with the medieval graffiti,” says Mark Allen, the supervisor of the cathedral excavations and Director of Allen Archaeology.

“The cathedral has seen little modern development, so the chance to investigate what remains below ground using modern techniques is exceptional.

“The examples we found are carved deep into the stone and would have taken some time and effort to create, suggesting that their creation was tolerated by the cathedral many, many years ago – very different to how we perceive graffiti today.

“During this investigation we found remains of many medieval buildings including the lost Deanery - the Dean’s lodging - and the Chantry, the Priest’s lodgings.

“They are two of the most impressive medieval buildings in Lincoln which were demolished in the Victorian period.

“Plus, we found a hall dating to the 1300s and the once tiled floor of an elaborate gatehouse - Dean Flemyng’s Gate Tower - which was constructed in 1451–83.

"With this intelligence we can fill gaps in the Cathedral’s history, which is incredible.”

Connected, a £12.4 million programme of restoration work, is taking place on the iconic West Front of the cathedral, including a new landscaped public space on the Dean’s Green, a visitor centre and exhibition spaces. The Heritage Lottery Fund is backing the project.

• Visit Connected for more.

Lincoln Cathedral

• Bishop Remigius built the first cathedral on the site, which was consecrated in 1092. Building continued in several phases throughout the medieval period.
  
  
• Lincoln Cathedral was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 238 years, between 1311 and 1549. The central spire on the central tower collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt.
  
  
• The Victorian writer John Ruskin declared: "I have always held...that the Cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have."
  
  
• Some of the latest features found by archaeologists were postholes from scaffolding almost certainly used during the demolition of Dean Flemyng’s Gate Tower in the 19th century.
  
  
• Fifteen separate areas were investigated by the Lincoln firm, all located to the north and west of the cathedral in areas which will be enhanced by Connected’s restoration and renovation plans.

Three cathedrals to enjoy

Elgin Cathedral
The superb ruin of what many think was Scotland’s most beautiful cathedral. Much of the work is in a rich late 13th-century style, much modified after the burning of the church by the Wolf of Badenoch in 1390. The octagonal chapter house is the finest in Scotland.

Bangor Cathedral
On the south side of the Menia Straits which separates the isle of Anglesey from the mainland of north Wales, this may be the only cathedral in the UK to have been in continuous use since its conception.

Salisbury Cathedral
The Spire is Britain's tallest and weighs 6,500 tons. It is possible to climb the 332 steps to the base of the Spire and marvel at the view. Visitors can also observe the ‘bendy pillars’ caused by adding this weighty spire standing in the Cathedral nave and wonder at the fact that the foundations of this enormous building are only 4ft deep.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art559083-lincoln-cathedral-medieval-graffiti-connected-restoration