William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the
greatest authors of all time and one of the most important and influential
people who has ever lived. His written works (plays, sonnets and poems) have
been translated into more than 100 languages and these are performed around the
world.
There is also an enduring desire to learn more about the
man himself. Countless books and articles have been written about Shakespeare’s
life. These have been based primarily on the scholarly analysis of his works
and the official record associated with him and his family. Shakespeare’s
popularity and legacy endures, despite uncertainties in his life story and debate
surrounding his authorship and identity.
The life and times of William Shakespeare and his family
have also recently been informed by cutting-edge archaeological methods and
interdisciplinary technologies at both New Place (his long-since demolished
family home) and his burial place at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
The evidence gathered from these investigations by the Centre
of Archaeology at Staffordshire University provides new insights into his
interests, attitudes and motivations – and those of his family – and shows how
archaeology can provide further tangible evidence. These complement traditional
Shakespearean research methods that have been limited to sparse documentary evidence
and the study of his works.
Archaeology has the ability to provide a direct
connection to an individual through the places and objects associated with
them. Past excavations of the Shakespearean-era theatres in London have provided
evidence of the places he worked and spent much of his time.
Attributing objects to Shakespeare is difficult, we have
his written work of course, his portrait(s) and memorial bust – but all of his known possessions, like
those mentioned in his will, no longer exist. A single gold signet
ring, inscribed with the initials W S, is thought by some to be the most
significant object owned and used by the poet, despite its questionable provenance.
Shakespeare’s house
Shakespeare’s greatest and most expensive possession was
his house, New Place. Evidence, obtained through recent archaeological investigations of its foundations, give
us quantifiable insights into Shakespeare’s thought processes, personal life
and business success.
The building itself was lost in the 18th century, but the
site and its remains were preserved beneath a garden. Erected in the centre of
Stratford-upon-Avon more than a century prior to Shakespeare’s purchase in 1597,
from its inception, it was architecturally striking. One of the largest
domestic residences in Stratford, it was the only courtyard-style, open-hall
house within the town.
This type of house typified the merchant and elite
classes and in purchasing and renovating it to his own vision, Shakespeare
inherited the traditions of his ancestors while embracing the latest fashions.
The building materials used, its primary structure and later redevelopment can
all be used as evidence of the deliberate and carefully considered choices made by him
and his family.
Shakespeare focused on the outward appearance of the
house, installing a long gallery and other fashionable architectural
embellishments as was expected of a well-to-do, aspiring gentleman of the time.
Many other medieval features were retained and the hall was likely
retained as the showpiece of his home, a place to announce his prosperity, and
his rise in status.
It provided a place for him and his immediate and
extended family to live, work and entertain. But it was also a place which held
local significance and symbolic associations. Intriguingly, its appearance also
resembled the courtyard inn theatres of London and elsewhere with which
Shakespeare was so familiar, presenting the opportunity to host private performances.
In search of the Bard
Extensive evidence of the personal possessions, diet and
the leisure activities of Shakespeare, his family and the inhabitants of New
Place were recovered during the archaeological investigations, revolutionising
what we understand about his day-to-day life.
An online exhibition, due to be made available in early May 2020,
presents 3D-scanned artefacts recovered at the site of New Place. These
objects, some of which may have belonged to Shakespeare, have been chosen to
characterise the chronological development and activities undertaken at the
site.
Open access to these virtual objects will enable the
dissemination of these important results and the potential for others to
continue the research.
Here lies …
Archaeological evidence recovered from non-invasive
investigations at Shakespeare’s burial place has also been used to provide
further evidence of his personal and family belief. Multi-frequency Ground
Penetrating Radar (GPR) was used to investigate the Shakespeare family graves below
the chancel of Holy Trinity Church.
A number of legends surrounded Shakespeare’s burial place.
Among these were doubts over the presence of a grave, its contents, tales of
grave robbing and suggestions of a large family crypt. The work confirmed that
individual shallow graves exist beneath the tombstones and that the various
members of Shakespeare’s family were not buried in coffins, but in simple
shrouds. Analysis concluded that Shakespeare’s grave had been disturbed in the
past and that it was likely that his skull had been removed, confirming recorded stories.
These family graves occupy a significant (and expensive)
location in Holy Trinity Church. Despite this, the simple nature of
Shakespeare’s grave, with no elite trappings or finery and no large family
crypt, coupled with his belief that he should not be disturbed, confirm a
simple regional practice based on pious religious observance and an affinity
with his hometown.
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