(Image: Megan Olshefski/Durham University)
Archaeologists will reveal secrets uncovered beneath one of Bishop Auckland’s historic landmarks at a special talk this autumn.
The talk will cover nearly a decade of discoveries beneath Auckland Castle, now Auckland Palace, the historic home of Durham’s powerful Prince Bishops.
Dr John Castling, archaeology curator at The Auckland Project, will lead the talk at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre and Opera House on Friday, November 13.
John Castling, archaeology curator at The Auckland Project (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Dr Castling said: "The excavations have transformed what we know about medieval Auckland and the extraordinary palace created here by Durham’s Prince Bishops.
"The discoveries range from monumental buildings to small, personal objects, and together they allow us to build a much richer picture of the people who lived, worked and worshipped here.
"The talk is a chance to share some of those discoveries and show just how much our understanding of Auckland Palace has changed."
Since 2018, more than 1,000 volunteers, students and trainee archaeologists have joined excavations led by Durham University and The Auckland Project.
The project uncovered palace walls, towers and gatehouses, revealing the site’s true scale and importance.
The most notable find was a vast two-storey chapel constructed around 1300 by Prince Bishop Antony Bek.
Britain’s largest chapel of its kind now has its footprint marked out in the Faith Museum courtyard at Auckland Palace.
Thousands of objects have been recovered from the site, including pottery, building materials, and personal items.
A small double-sided crucifix, now on display in the Faith Museum, offers a glimpse into the personal faith of those who lived at the palace.
The archaeology project has drawn national attention, appearing twice on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain and on Channel 5.
The digging is over but analysis continues, with more than 300 boxes of artefacts still being studied.
Members of the public can see the work first-hand at an “open lab” held on selected Fridays at Hearth in Bishop Auckland Market Place.
At the open lab, archaeologists from The Auckland Project and Durham University examine finds, answer questions and explain what happens next.
One of the most remarkable discoveries under analysis is a knife with an elephant ivory handle, decorated with gold and silver.
On Digging for Britain, Professor Alice Roberts called it “one of the most beautiful objects I’ve ever seen,” saying it reflected the medieval bishops’ wealth and status.
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Dr Castling oversees archaeology at Auckland Palace, its 150-acre Deer Park and Binchester Roman Fort.
He is also an honorary fellow in Durham University’s Department of Archaeology.
The talk, The Bishop’s Palace Beneath the Lawns: Rediscovering Auckland Castle, begins at 1pm on Friday, November 13.
Tickets cost £7 and are available through the Tyne Theatre and Opera House website.
Find more information about The Auckland Project and its work on its website.