Once a proud symbol of the British Middle Ages, Nottingham Castle was closed for redevelopment and refurbishment in 2018. In the midst of the excavations, the BBC reports that archaeologists came across something that was completely out of the blue! During the £30 million (about $42 million) refurbishment, the bones of three monkeys dating back to the Georgian age were discovered.
The Nottingham Castle Renovation and Discoveries
A major royal fortress and occasional royal residence from once upon a time, Nottingham fell into decline and was mostly demolished in 1651 as a result of the English Civil War . While little remains of the original structure and layout serves as a reminder of the past grandeur of this medieval castle. Closed since the excavations and renovation began in 2018, the castle is set to reopen to the public on 21 June 2021.
The recent and unexpected discovery was made by Dr. Kris Poole, post-excavation manager at Trent & Peak Archaeology, who also identified the remains. “The monkey bones were mixed in with bones of animals that we would much more commonly expect to find on an archaeological site – cows, sheep, and pigs – and immediately stood out as being unusual,” noted Poole. “Although there are plenty of records of exotic animals being brought into the country in this period, you very rarely find their remains.”
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