Archaeologists use a toilet to track the mansion depicted in a famous medieval tapestry

Dating nine centuries, the Bayeux tapestry tells the epic history of William’s conquest of Normandy in England in 1066. One of the earliest scenes sewn on a masterpiece with a length of approximately 224 feet (68.3 meters), depicts Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo -Saxon king of England, enjoying a A holiday in one of his estates in the village of Bosam. Archaeologists now believe that they may have found the ruins of the mansion – all thanks to the toilet.

After conducting new studies and re -analyzing past excavations, archaeologists from the United Kingdom revealed what they consider to be Harold’s residence in Bosham. The mansion is depicted twice in the Bayeux tapestry, but the location of the actual building has been lost – so far. Their investigative work, detailed on January 9 exploration Published in The Antiquaries JournalIn addition, it bases the emblematic embroidery in real life.

“The Norman conquest saw a new ruling class to replace the English aristocracy, which did not leave a little on the path of physical remains, which made the discovery in Bosam an extremely significant one we found the Anglo-Saxon show, Oliver Creeton of the University of Exeter, said at a University of Newcastle statementS

Earlier, scientists suggested that it is currently a private home in Bosam, where it was the royal mansion, giving archaeologists from the two universities a good starting point. In addition to reviewing the results of excavations since 2006, the team conducted new studies and studied cards, among other records. In the end, they documented two unidentified buildings belonging to the medieval era, which began in the UK with the conquest of William in 1066.

However, the 2006 excavations had revealed – and neglected – a characteristic that pointed to a building that existed before William to take down Harold: a toilet belonging to a large wooden building. Archaeologists have recently realized that since the 10th century BC, some prestigious residences in England had toilets, according to researchers. The large wooden building must have been a high -status home belonging to a high -status resident.

As a result, Creyton and his colleagues confidently identified him as part of the “lost” Harold residence in Bosam from a tapestry Bayo, a complex that includes a surviving nearby church.

“The realization that the excavations of 2006 have actually found Anglo -Saxon Enoshit, confirmed that this house is sitting in the place of an elite residence preceding from the Norman conquest,” said Duncan Wright of the University of Newcastle, who led the study. “Looking at this vital clue, along with all our other evidence, it is beyond a reasonable doubt that we have the place of the private Harold Godwins’ Power Center here, the one who famous depicts a tapestry in Bayo.”

This shows that sometimes ancient sources – including works of art – are more accurate than one can think.