Archaeologists have unearthed around 50 skeletons at what was once a medieval pilgrimage site in the West Midlands.

The shallow graves were discovered while experts surveyed the grounds around Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire where an almshouse once stood.

This almshouse was used by pilgrims who travelled to worship at the tomb of 7th century St Chad of Mercia, and it is believed the skeletons belong to visitors who died during their stay.

Archaeologists have unearthed around 50 medieval skeletons (selection pictured) on what was once a pilgrimage site in the West Midlands. The shallow graves were discovered while experts surveyed the grounds around Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire where an almshouse once stood

The bodies were first uncovered by Archaeology Warwickshire in August.

The firm has been granted a licence to survey the area around St John's Hospital ahead of an apartment block being built on the site.

Archaeologists said they expected to uncover graves on the site but were surprised by the 'volume and quantity' of what they found.

The graves are shallow, at around 1.6ft (0.5 metres) deep, and most of the bodies were laid on their backs in rows covered in dirt.

The bodies were first uncovered by Archaeology Warwickshire in August. The firm has been granted a licence to survey the area around St John's Hospital ahead of an apartment block being built on the site (marked). The almshouse was used by pilgrims who travelled to worship at the tomb of 7th century St Chad of Mercia

Initial investigations reveal there are adults and children among the remains but Archaeology Warwickshire now plans to study each skeleton to determine their respective genders, ages and causes of death

Archaeology Warwickshire received a year-long permit from the Ministry of Justice to study the remains, however many of the skeletons were buried in acidic soil, which may make analysis difficult

Chad was an Anglo-Saxon abbot during the 7th century. He later became Bishop of the Mercians.

He is credited with building the monastery at Lichfield and converted many people to Christianity before he died of the plague in 672 AD.

Following on from his death, Chad was canonized as a saint and his remains were housed in a tomb on the site of Lichfield Cathedral.

THE PILGRIMS OF ST CHAD Chad was a 7th century Anglo-Saxon bishop. He died of the plague in 672 AD and was canonized as a saint. His tomb was housed at Lichfield Cathedral Chad was an Anglo-Saxon abbot during the 7th century. He later became Bishop of the Mercians. He is credited with building the monastery at Lichfield and converted many to Christianity before he died of the plague in 672 AD. Following on from his death, Chad was canonized as a saint and his tomb was housed on the site of Lichfield Cathedral. During medieval times, and particularly in the 12th century, pilgrims travelled to Lichfield to visit the tomb after there were reports of miracles taking place at the site. The gates to the ancient city of Lichfield shut each night and pilgrims slept in an almshouse referred to as 'the barrs'. It is believed that those who died during their pilgrimage were buried together in a shallow grave on the site. In 1538 the shrine to St Chad was dismantled under the orders of King Henry VIII and the bones of the saint were either destroyed or buried in an unknown location. Advertisement

In medieval times, and particularly during the 12th century, pilgrims travelled to Lichfield to visit the tomb after there were reports of miracles taking place at the site.

Many people claimed to have been cured of various diseases after touching the tomb.

Due to the influx of pilgrims, the gates to the ancient city of Lichfield were reportedly shut each night and visitors slept in an almshouse referred to as 'the barrs'.

It is believed that those who died during their pilgrimage were buried together in a shallow grave on the site.

In 1538 the shrine to St Chad was dismantled under the orders of King Henry VIII and the bones of the saint were either destroyed or buried in an unknown location.

In particular the archaeologists will carry out isotopic analysis on the remains (pictured) to reveal how far and wide the pilgrims travelled

During medieval times pilgrims travelled to Lichfield (cathedral pictured) to visit the tomb after there were reports of miracles taking place at the site. In 1538 the shrine was dismantled under the orders of King Henry VIII and the bones of the saint were either destroyed or buried in an unknown location

An archaeologist inspects the Lichfield remains. The graves were around 1.6ft (0.5 metres) deeps

Stuart Palmer, business manager for Archaeology Warwickshire, said: 'The site of the excavation was a well-known site of pilgrimage in medieval times with pilgrims travelling from around the medieval world to be close to the remains of St Chad who was interred at the current site of Lichfield Cathedral.

'St John's in medieval Lichfield provided overnight accommodation for pilgrims for several hundred years and many of the pilgrims visiting came to be healed and some may well have died, which carries the possibility that this burial ground was for these unfortunate pilgrims.

'Although medieval burial sites are not uncommon in the UK, those associated with known sites of pilgrimage are not so common and this work presents a rare opportunity to study such a particular assemblage.

Initial investigations reveal that there are adults and children among the remains.

Archaeology Warwickshire now plans to study each skeleton to determine their respective genders, ages and causes of death.

In particular, they will carry out isotopic analysis to reveal how far and wide the pilgrims travelled.

'The remains are currently being processed and, once cleaned, will be aged and sexed and examined for signs of injury, disease, dietary deficiency and other pathologies,' continued Mr Palmer.

'These tests can often reveal fascinating aspects of life, medical practice and life expectancy in medieval populations.

'This could provide us with a truly fascinating window into the past.

Archaeology Warwickshire received a year-long permit from the Ministry of Justice to study the remains, however many of the skeletons were buried in acidic soil, which may make analysis difficult.