Major excavations on the site previously occupied by the Old Examinations Hall carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) have uncovered fascinating details of a medieval Augustinian friary.

According to the CAU, the work has revealed the foundations of multiple edifices, along with some fine architectural details, window glass, and decorated tiles.

The CAU intends to exhibit the excavations in an open day on the 17th December. Site director Craig Cessford said: “Our Open Day is a rare opportunity for members of the general public to come and see ongoing excavations in the heart of Cambridge. The excavations, taking place on the site previously occupied by the Old Examinations Hall, represent the most significant modern opportunity to investigate a medieval religious site in Cambridge.”

The friary is recorded as having been founded in 1290. It was influential in disputes between the University and the town, but in 1538 fell victim to the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.

Perhaps the most important discoveries on the site are numerous burial places and an external cemetery. Such findings often yield skeletons, which can then be tested for information on pathogens, the diet of the subject, and other details to build up a picture of the general health of the community.

The CAU hopes that the new discovery will complement work they have done on skeletons from other burial sites in Cambridge, especially the hospital of St John, where around 400 skeletons were unearthed in 2010.

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Cessford, who also worked on the hospital project, said of the burial sites: “The burials found at the Augustinian Friary site are from the same time period as those recovered from the Hospital of St John, but represent individuals of a higher status. It is hoped that these remains will provide important comparative material for this study, improving our picture of health and history in medieval Cambridge”