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Workers building the new London-Birmingham high-speed railway line have unearthed the grave of the sailor who gave Australia its name.
For 180 years the last resting place of explorer and navigator Captain Matthew Flinders has been lost among 40,000 other bodies in graves near Euston station.
But archaeologists excavating St James’ burial ground to pave the way for the new HS2 terminus have identified the officer’s grave out of the thousands at the site.
The lead depositum plate – breast plate – put on top of Flinders’ coffin when he was buried in July 1814 meant his remains could be formally identified.
As commanding officer of HMS Investigator, Flinders sailed from Portsmouth in 1801 to conduct the first circumnavigation of Australia – confirming it was a continent.
read more
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-a...qLCEiOAInZtD9NNWk-6uGvMYKICuSgA6QMfjpe25ARUBM
For 180 years the last resting place of explorer and navigator Captain Matthew Flinders has been lost among 40,000 other bodies in graves near Euston station.
But archaeologists excavating St James’ burial ground to pave the way for the new HS2 terminus have identified the officer’s grave out of the thousands at the site.
The lead depositum plate – breast plate – put on top of Flinders’ coffin when he was buried in July 1814 meant his remains could be formally identified.
As commanding officer of HMS Investigator, Flinders sailed from Portsmouth in 1801 to conduct the first circumnavigation of Australia – confirming it was a continent.
read more
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-a...qLCEiOAInZtD9NNWk-6uGvMYKICuSgA6QMfjpe25ARUBM
