Discovered the king's residence through a restroom: excavations led to a significant find (photos included).

Archaeologists have found evidence suggesting that a private residence in Bosham, England, may be built on the site of the long-lost estate of Harold Godwinson, the 11th-century English king. The discoveries indicate that this location was once a key political center before the Norman Conquest of 1066, writes Medievalists.net.

A research team from Newcastle University and the University of Exeter conducted new studies and reanalyzed previous excavations in Bosham, West Sussex. This village appears twice on the Bayeux Tapestry—a medieval embroidery depicting events leading up to the Norman invasion.

In one scene, Harold feasts in a great hall before his departure to France. He later returns to Bosham before the Battle of Hastings, where he met his end. The exact location of his estate remains uncertain, but fresh archaeological data strongly suggest it lies beneath a modern private home.

To trace the history of the estate, researchers employed geophysical surveys, historical maps, and findings from excavations conducted in 2006 by the West Sussex Archaeological Service. These efforts uncovered two previously unknown medieval structures—one integrated into an existing house and the other in the garden.

A key discovery was made during the 2006 excavations, which revealed a privy in a large wooden building. Private toilets were a characteristic feature of elite residences starting from the 10th century, which increases the likelihood that this building served as Harold's residence. The estate also included a church that still stands today.

Dr. Duncan Wright, a senior lecturer in medieval archaeology at Newcastle University, stated: "The discovery of the Anglo-Saxon privy confirmed for us that this house is situated on the site of an elite residence that existed before the Norman Conquest."

Professor Oliver Creighton from the University of Exeter added: "The Norman Conquest transformed the English aristocracy, leaving behind little physical evidence, which makes the finds in Bosham incredibly significant—we have identified a high-status Anglo-Saxon house."

This discovery is part of the project "Where Power Lies," which explores medieval aristocratic centers across England. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the project aims to reassess the archaeological significance of these historical sites.

We also reported on a subterranean settlement in Iran. Researchers uncovered tunnels, channels for transporting water, and unique shelters from heat and dangers, but this is not all the secrets that remain.