Construction Crew Knocks Down Wall And Uncovers Historic Discovery That’s Been Lost For Decades

Jan 18, 2019 by apost team

We think that history is something that happened in the past. Some even believe that history isn’t relative to daily life, because it happened long ago. But when a new chapter of history gets discovered, history becomes as current as today’s news. And it gives us insight into human life and the lives of people who have gone before us.

Historical finds spur people on to do further research, whether discovered by accident or a purposeful search. Many significant finds were made entirely by accident. Some of these found artifacts can be worth a ton of money and even become sources sought out by others as tourist attractions. 

Historical writings in the form of books, historical accounts, and scrolls have even been found that lead to the discovery of lost civilizations.

apost.com

Recently, Cambridge University in the UK had some major remodelling done on its property. The workers discovered some completely unexpected items of historical significance. The discovery caused a buzz amongst the academic community that went viral on social media. Workers knocked down a wall in a small alcove that was covered by drywall. They discovered a vintage cast iron stove.

The remodelers immediately informed the department of archaeology to launch an investigation on their find. Researchers discovered that the alcove and stove were used by staff members at the university to brew tea and make breakfast for the student body. The nook is technically called a “gyp.” The stove has been appropriately preserved. Some of the items the construction workers found include letters, postcards, and cigarette cards.

These items dated from 1912-1916. The University and its archivists preserved the letters and studied their content. A fascinating amount of information was discovered in these messages about the way people lived on the Cambridge campus in the early 1900s.

Cambridge archaeologists believe that the stove was placed in the wall in about 1920 because the University stopped providing breakfast for its students at about that time. The University decided to place these items on display at the University’s chapel so that students could learn more about the history of their school.

Plans remain to create a permanent display area for the stove and papers. University historians continue to seek relatives of the letter writers.

Have you ever accidentally found a piece of history? What do you think about these discoveries? Express your thoughts in the comments below and don't forget to pass this incredible story along to your friends and family!