Archaeologists have begun the careful excavation of around 3,000 skeletons at Liverpool Street in the City of London ahead of the creation of the new Liverpool Street Crossrail station according to contractor Laing O’Rouke.


There are 60 archeologists on site working six days a week who will be tasked with removing the skeletons whilst carefully recording what they find in the process.


It’s estimated that the work will last until September when the construction supplies required for the construction of the new site will start to arrive.


The burial site is part of the Bedlam graveyard and was in use from 1569 through to 1738 seeing the nation and capital transformed through periods of strife to times of great achievements.


Jay Carver, Crossrail Lead Archaeologist said: “This excavation presents a unique opportunity to understand the lives and deaths of 16th and 17th century Londoners.


“The Bedlam burial ground spans a fascinating phase of London’s history, including the transition from the Tudor-period City into cosmopolitan early-modern London.


“This is probably the first time a sample of this size from this time period has been available for archaeologists to study in London.”


The construction of many of the Crossrail projects offer huge opportunities for understanding the history beneath surface of London and this is a prime example of this fact. At OBAS we believe a business’ journey is essential to understanding where a business is going and a city is much the same, it’s only by understanding its history can we hope to lay the foundations for the future of that city.