Jewish bodies found in medieval well in Norwich

BBC ^ | June 22, 2011 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

...scientists who used a combination of DNA analysis, carbon dating and bone chemical studies in their investigation. The skeletons date back to the 12th or 13th Centuries at a time when Jewish people were facing persecution throughout Europe... discovered in 2004 during an excavation of a site in the centre of Norwich, ahead of construction of the Chapelfield Shopping Centre. The remains were put into storage and have only recently been the subject of investigation. Seven skeletons were successfully tested and five of them had a DNA sequence suggesting they were likely to be members of a single Jewish family... Eleven of the 17 skeletons were those of children aged between two and 15. The remaining six were adult men and women... Pictures taken at the time of excavation suggested the bodies were thrown down the well together, head first. A close examination of the adult bones showed fractures caused by the impact of hitting the bottom of the well. But the same damage was not seen on the children's bones, suggesting they were thrown in after the adults who cushioned the fall of their bodies. The team had earlier considered the possibility of death by disease but the bone examination also showed no evidence of diseases such as leprosy or tuberculosis... Norwich had been home to a thriving Jewish community since 1135 and many lived near the well site. But there are records of persecution of Jews in medieval England including in Norwich... the Jewish people had been invited to England by the King to lend money because at the time, the Christian interpretation of the bible did not allow Christians to lend money and charge interest.

[SunkenCiv]

And unbelievably, Jews in Norwich continued to not be able to vote for the Democrats!

There is evidence the children were thrown down the well after the adults

[SunkenCiv]

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[JoeProBono]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks JPB.

[justiceseeker93]

And unbelievably, Jews in Norwich continued to not be able to vote for the Democrats!

Unfortunately, SunkenCiv, your effort at gallows humor misses the mark. This is Norwich in Britain, not Norwich, CT.

[rmlew]

Norwich England was the first recorded case of mob violence after the Blood Libel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Norwich

[fso301]

Sounds like the ones to go in first were the lucky ones.

To me, this is curious.

When you throw multiple people into a well as a criminal act, my guess is you do it for several reasons; One, you don't want to dig holes. Two, you don't want the bodies discovered/recovered without considerable difficulty. Three, to make sure the well whether dry, or not can not be used for drawing water and Four, unlike a lynching which can be viewed from a distance and the dangling body serve as both a trophy and a lasting warning, you don't want your act seen from a distance.

If the person is alive at the time you throw them in, you are also seeking to inflict a measure of pain and suffering on the hapless person as well as intimidate fellow mob members and onlookers.

The only way I could see these people being thrown in as a non-criminal acti is if they had already died of disease, famine or fire. If that was the case, the only reason for throwing them into a well would be because the well had long been known as being dry and offered the quickest means of disposal.

The question for a history detective should be:

1. what was the approximate date
2. were any incidents of mob violence recorded during this period? If yes, were any such acts of mob violence against Jews
3. was throwing victims into wells a recorded act of mob violence in Medeival times?

[rmlew]

1144 riot after William of Norwich died. First Blood Libel in Medieval Europe.

[fso301]

1144 riot after William of Norwich died. First Blood Libel in Medieval Europe

Yes, thank you. My main curiosity surrounds selection of a well for execution/disposal. In those days, a functional well had considerable economic value.

[Sawdring]

Do you smoke a pipe and wear a deer stalker hat?

[colorado tanker]

William of Norwich, whose death lead to the Norwich pogrom.

From what I have read the murder was never solved.

[Rebelbase]

“My main curiosity surrounds selection of a well for execution/disposal. In those days, a functional well had considerable economic value. “

Poisoning a Jew’s well with Jews fits the profile of a pogrom.

[fso301]

Do you smoke a pipe and wear a deer stalker hat?

LOL! No but from my days as an amateur archaeologist, these type things intrigue me.

[fso301]

Poisoning a Jew’s well with Jews fits the profile of a pogrom.

That's what one would suspect. However, I'm curious as to why that wasn't addressed directly in the article?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks colorado tanker. Fetishishtic murderers and serial killers are not a modern invention.

William of Norwich:

Google

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks rmlew!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fso301.

[SunkenCiv]

I'm aware, I'm aware.