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close VideoJapanese town holds bear drill after rise in attacks across the countryJapanese town conducts a drill after recent bear attacks across the country.
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A string of bear attacks have spread across towns in Japan, prompting officials to host practice drills. (See the video at the top of this article.)
Last month, a bear attacked a man in his 70s near an elementary school in Nasushiobara City, Japan’s public media organization NHK reported.
The nearly five-foot bear wounded the man’s neck and head, leaving non-threatening wounds.
RESCUE OPERATION FREES INJURED MAN TRAPPED 130 FEET UNDERGROUND IN ITALIAN CAVE
Another attack took place in Morioka City with a bear attacking an 81-year-old man’s head, according to NHK.
A school in Aibetsu, Hokkaido, canceled its outdoor classes over what appeared to be bear footprints spotted in the school yard.
Japanese authorities have conducted safety drills featuring simulated bear encounters. (AP Newsroom)
The events have sparked police in Tochigi Prefecture to partner with a local hunters club to conduct “bear drills,” according to The Associated Press (AP).
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In the drills, a man is seen wearing a bear costume as he runs and chases police armed with shields and helmets.
The drill included medical response training following the simulation.
A Japanese town conducts a drill after recent bear attacks across the country. (AP Newsroom)
The National Park Service (NPS) shares guidelines with park visitors on its website on best practices in a bear encounter.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
“Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal,” says the NPS site.
“Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms.”
The National Park Service advises park visitors to remain still if encountering a bear. (AP Newsroom)
If a bear stands up, NPS reminds visitors that “a standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.”
Park visitors should not allow the bear to access their food.
Visitors should not run from the bear — nor should they climb a tree.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Leave the area or take a detour. If this is impossible, wait until the bear moves away. Always leave the bear an escape route,” NPS says on its site.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.

close VideoJapanese town holds bear drill after rise in attacks across the countryJapanese town conducts a drill after recent bear attacks across the country.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A string of bear attacks have spread across towns in Japan, prompting officials to host practice drills. (See the video at the top of this article.)
Last month, a bear attacked a man in his 70s near an elementary school in Nasushiobara City, Japan’s public media organization NHK reported.
The nearly five-foot bear wounded the man’s neck and head, leaving non-threatening wounds.
RESCUE OPERATION FREES INJURED MAN TRAPPED 130 FEET UNDERGROUND IN ITALIAN CAVE
Another attack took place in Morioka City with a bear attacking an 81-year-old man’s head, according to NHK.
A school in Aibetsu, Hokkaido, canceled its outdoor classes over what appeared to be bear footprints spotted in the school yard.
Japanese authorities have conducted safety drills featuring simulated bear encounters. (AP Newsroom)
The events have sparked police in Tochigi Prefecture to partner with a local hunters club to conduct “bear drills,” according to The Associated Press (AP).
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
In the drills, a man is seen wearing a bear costume as he runs and chases police armed with shields and helmets.
The drill included medical response training following the simulation.
A Japanese town conducts a drill after recent bear attacks across the country. (AP Newsroom)
The National Park Service (NPS) shares guidelines with park visitors on its website on best practices in a bear encounter.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
“Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal,” says the NPS site.
“Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms.”
The National Park Service advises park visitors to remain still if encountering a bear. (AP Newsroom)
If a bear stands up, NPS reminds visitors that “a standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.”
Park visitors should not allow the bear to access their food.
Visitors should not run from the bear — nor should they climb a tree.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Leave the area or take a detour. If this is impossible, wait until the bear moves away. Always leave the bear an escape route,” NPS says on its site.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.

close VideoJapanese town holds bear drill after rise in attacks across the countryJapanese town conducts a drill after recent bear attacks across the country.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A string of bear attacks have spread across towns in Japan, prompting officials to host practice drills. (See the video at the top of this article.)
Last month, a bear attacked a man in his 70s near an elementary school in Nasushiobara City, Japan’s public media organization NHK reported.
The nearly five-foot bear wounded the man’s neck and head, leaving non-threatening wounds.
RESCUE OPERATION FREES INJURED MAN TRAPPED 130 FEET UNDERGROUND IN ITALIAN CAVE
Another attack took place in Morioka City with a bear attacking an 81-year-old man’s head, according to NHK.
A school in Aibetsu, Hokkaido, canceled its outdoor classes over what appeared to be bear footprints spotted in the school yard.
Japanese authorities have conducted safety drills featuring simulated bear encounters. (AP Newsroom)
The events have sparked police in Tochigi Prefecture to partner with a local hunters club to conduct “bear drills,” according to The Associated Press (AP).
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
In the drills, a man is seen wearing a bear costume as he runs and chases police armed with shields and helmets.
The drill included medical response training following the simulation.
A Japanese town conducts a drill after recent bear attacks across the country. (AP Newsroom)
The National Park Service (NPS) shares guidelines with park visitors on its website on best practices in a bear encounter.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
“Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal,” says the NPS site.
“Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms.”
The National Park Service advises park visitors to remain still if encountering a bear. (AP Newsroom)
If a bear stands up, NPS reminds visitors that “a standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.”
Park visitors should not allow the bear to access their food.
Visitors should not run from the bear — nor should they climb a tree.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Leave the area or take a detour. If this is impossible, wait until the bear moves away. Always leave the bear an escape route,” NPS says on its site.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.

close VideoExpert shares riptide escape tips after accidental drowning of Malcolm-Jamal WarnerAmerican Lifeguard Association spokesperson Wyatt Werneth joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to share tips for safely swimming out of riptides and strong currents after the death of ‘Cosby Show’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
With many people soaking up the sun at beaches this summer, recent drownings have been raising awareness about the best practices when encountering a rip current – also widely known as a riptide.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his portrayal of Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” was on a family vacation in Costa Rica when he tragically passed away.
Currents pulled Warner, 54, into the waters on July 20. People jumped in to rescue him, yet first responders were unable to revive him, Fox News Digital previously reported.
FORMER GEORGIA POLICE OFFICER DEAD AFTER SAVING 5 IN BEACH RIP CURRENT
Last week, a decorated former police officer and ex-Baltimore Orioles minor league player tragically drowned in an attempt to save a family in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
Chase Childers heroically dove into the water after witnessing four people struggling. Childers was swept away due to the rip current, resulting in his death, Fox News Digital reported.
Recent drownings are highlighting the dangers of rip currents at beaches. (iStock)
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Eric Cespedes drowned on July 11 while visiting South Padre Island, Texas. He was rescuing his children from a current but then was pulled under the water himself, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
There have already been 36 deaths reported so far this year, according to the National Weather Service.
Chris Brewster of the United States Lifesaving Association told Fox News Digital that every year there are reports of citizen rescuers who try to help those struggling in rip currents and do not survive.
BEACH BACTERIA WARNINGS PLAGUE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND PLANS NATIONWIDE
“We don’t recommend that people try to rescue others, partly for this reason, but we do recommend that if people try to rescue others, they always take a floatation device, like a body board, life jacket, or anything that floats,” Brewster said.
Brewster said that while many say “riptides,” the correct terminology is rip currents — as these are not caused by tides.
There have already been 36 deaths due to rip currents reported so far this year. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Rip currents occur at any beach where there is surf. What happens is that the surf pushes water up the slope of the beach. Gravity pulls it back,” said Brewster.
“It can concentrate in some cases and cause these concentrated currents of water moving away from the beach.”
Brewster co-authored a peer-reviewed study estimating rip current rescues and drowning in the U.S. published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences.
Rip currents were found to cause 81.9% of rescues on surf beaches. It’s possible that more than 100 fatal drownings per year occur due to them.
JULY FOURTH BOATERS WARNED ABOUT DEADLY WATERFRONT DANGER WITH LIFESAVING SUMMER TIPS
Greg Dusek, NOAA’s National Ocean Service senior scientist, told Fox News Digital they typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars as well as near structures such as jetties and piers.
“Rips can be identified by narrow gaps of darker, seemingly calmer water between areas of breaking waves and whitewater, choppy water, differences in watercolor, and a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving seaward,” said Dusek.
Rip currents were the cause of 81.9% of rescues on surf beaches, while more than 100 fatal drownings per year possibly occur due to them. (J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Brewster said most people are not aware of rip currents while in the water.
“They notice that they’re further away from the beach than they thought they were, then typically they try to swim back toward the shore and realize they’re making no progress,” said Brewster.
This then “causes panic and that leads them to expend a lot of energy,” he said. That’s what “results in the drowning ultimately,” he said.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
Stewart Leonard, grocery store chain president, lost his own toddler son in a swimming pool drowning incident back in 1989, inspiring him to open the Stewie the Duck Swim School – teaching children how to swim.
“The key is to stay calm, conserve energy and swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current, then head in at an angle,” Leonard told Fox News Digital.
In a rip current, “the key is to stay calm, conserve energy and swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current — then head in at an angle.” (AP Photo/Mingson Lau)
Said Brewster, “The big picture is that once you realize this is going on, don’t fight the current, because you won’t win. Relax, float, and then try to swim out of the rip.”
There are about 4,500 fatal unintentional drownings each year, with fifty percent of fatal drownings of those over the age of 15 occurring in oceans, lakes and rivers, according to the CDC.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Brewster advises beachgoers to swim near a lifeguard, not away from them.
Leonard shared that parents should be conscious of their children while at the beach.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Just like having a designated driver when you drink, have a designated watcher when kids are swimming and put your phone down so you aren’t distracted while the kids are in the water,” said Leonard.

close VideoExpert shares riptide escape tips after accidental drowning of Malcolm-Jamal WarnerAmerican Lifeguard Association spokesperson Wyatt Werneth joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to share tips for safely swimming out of riptides and strong currents after the death of ‘Cosby Show’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
With many people soaking up the sun at beaches this summer, recent drownings have been raising awareness about the best practices when encountering a rip current – also widely known as a riptide.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his portrayal of Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” was on a family vacation in Costa Rica when he tragically passed away.
Currents pulled Warner, 54, into the waters on July 20. People jumped in to rescue him, yet first responders were unable to revive him, Fox News Digital previously reported.
FORMER GEORGIA POLICE OFFICER DEAD AFTER SAVING 5 IN BEACH RIP CURRENT
Last week, a decorated former police officer and ex-Baltimore Orioles minor league player tragically drowned in an attempt to save a family in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
Chase Childers heroically dove into the water after witnessing four people struggling. Childers was swept away due to the rip current, resulting in his death, Fox News Digital reported.
Recent drownings are highlighting the dangers of rip currents at beaches. (iStock)
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Eric Cespedes drowned on July 11 while visiting South Padre Island, Texas. He was rescuing his children from a current but then was pulled under the water himself, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
There have already been 36 deaths reported so far this year, according to the National Weather Service.
Chris Brewster of the United States Lifesaving Association told Fox News Digital that every year there are reports of citizen rescuers who try to help those struggling in rip currents and do not survive.
BEACH BACTERIA WARNINGS PLAGUE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND PLANS NATIONWIDE
“We don’t recommend that people try to rescue others, partly for this reason, but we do recommend that if people try to rescue others, they always take a floatation device, like a body board, life jacket, or anything that floats,” Brewster said.
Brewster said that while many say “riptides,” the correct terminology is rip currents — as these are not caused by tides.
There have already been 36 deaths due to rip currents reported so far this year. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Rip currents occur at any beach where there is surf. What happens is that the surf pushes water up the slope of the beach. Gravity pulls it back,” said Brewster.
“It can concentrate in some cases and cause these concentrated currents of water moving away from the beach.”
Brewster co-authored a peer-reviewed study estimating rip current rescues and drowning in the U.S. published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences.
Rip currents were found to cause 81.9% of rescues on surf beaches. It’s possible that more than 100 fatal drownings per year occur due to them.
JULY FOURTH BOATERS WARNED ABOUT DEADLY WATERFRONT DANGER WITH LIFESAVING SUMMER TIPS
Greg Dusek, NOAA’s National Ocean Service senior scientist, told Fox News Digital they typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars as well as near structures such as jetties and piers.
“Rips can be identified by narrow gaps of darker, seemingly calmer water between areas of breaking waves and whitewater, choppy water, differences in watercolor, and a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving seaward,” said Dusek.
Rip currents were the cause of 81.9% of rescues on surf beaches, while more than 100 fatal drownings per year possibly occur due to them. (J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Brewster said most people are not aware of rip currents while in the water.
“They notice that they’re further away from the beach than they thought they were, then typically they try to swim back toward the shore and realize they’re making no progress,” said Brewster.
This then “causes panic and that leads them to expend a lot of energy,” he said. That’s what “results in the drowning ultimately,” he said.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
Stewart Leonard, grocery store chain president, lost his own toddler son in a swimming pool drowning incident back in 1989, inspiring him to open the Stewie the Duck Swim School – teaching children how to swim.
“The key is to stay calm, conserve energy and swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current, then head in at an angle,” Leonard told Fox News Digital.
In a rip current, “the key is to stay calm, conserve energy and swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current — then head in at an angle.” (AP Photo/Mingson Lau)
Said Brewster, “The big picture is that once you realize this is going on, don’t fight the current, because you won’t win. Relax, float, and then try to swim out of the rip.”
There are about 4,500 fatal unintentional drownings each year, with fifty percent of fatal drownings of those over the age of 15 occurring in oceans, lakes and rivers, according to the CDC.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Brewster advises beachgoers to swim near a lifeguard, not away from them.
Leonard shared that parents should be conscious of their children while at the beach.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Just like having a designated driver when you drink, have a designated watcher when kids are swimming and put your phone down so you aren’t distracted while the kids are in the water,” said Leonard.

close VideoExpert shares riptide escape tips after accidental drowning of Malcolm-Jamal WarnerAmerican Lifeguard Association spokesperson Wyatt Werneth joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to share tips for safely swimming out of riptides and strong currents after the death of ‘Cosby Show’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
With many people soaking up the sun at beaches this summer, recent drownings have been raising awareness about the best practices when encountering a rip current – also widely known as a riptide.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his portrayal of Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” was on a family vacation in Costa Rica when he tragically passed away.
Currents pulled Warner, 54, into the waters on July 20. People jumped in to rescue him, yet first responders were unable to revive him, Fox News Digital previously reported.
FORMER GEORGIA POLICE OFFICER DEAD AFTER SAVING 5 IN BEACH RIP CURRENT
Last week, a decorated former police officer and ex-Baltimore Orioles minor league player tragically drowned in an attempt to save a family in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
Chase Childers heroically dove into the water after witnessing four people struggling. Childers was swept away due to the rip current, resulting in his death, Fox News Digital reported.
Recent drownings are highlighting the dangers of rip currents at beaches. (iStock)
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Eric Cespedes drowned on July 11 while visiting South Padre Island, Texas. He was rescuing his children from a current but then was pulled under the water himself, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
There have already been 36 deaths reported so far this year, according to the National Weather Service.
Chris Brewster of the United States Lifesaving Association told Fox News Digital that every year there are reports of citizen rescuers who try to help those struggling in rip currents and do not survive.
BEACH BACTERIA WARNINGS PLAGUE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND PLANS NATIONWIDE
“We don’t recommend that people try to rescue others, partly for this reason, but we do recommend that if people try to rescue others, they always take a floatation device, like a body board, life jacket, or anything that floats,” Brewster said.
Brewster said that while many say “riptides,” the correct terminology is rip currents — as these are not caused by tides.
There have already been 36 deaths due to rip currents reported so far this year. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Rip currents occur at any beach where there is surf. What happens is that the surf pushes water up the slope of the beach. Gravity pulls it back,” said Brewster.
“It can concentrate in some cases and cause these concentrated currents of water moving away from the beach.”
Brewster co-authored a peer-reviewed study estimating rip current rescues and drowning in the U.S. published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences.
Rip currents were found to cause 81.9% of rescues on surf beaches. It’s possible that more than 100 fatal drownings per year occur due to them.
JULY FOURTH BOATERS WARNED ABOUT DEADLY WATERFRONT DANGER WITH LIFESAVING SUMMER TIPS
Greg Dusek, NOAA’s National Ocean Service senior scientist, told Fox News Digital they typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars as well as near structures such as jetties and piers.
“Rips can be identified by narrow gaps of darker, seemingly calmer water between areas of breaking waves and whitewater, choppy water, differences in watercolor, and a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving seaward,” said Dusek.
Rip currents were the cause of 81.9% of rescues on surf beaches, while more than 100 fatal drownings per year possibly occur due to them. (J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Brewster said most people are not aware of rip currents while in the water.
“They notice that they’re further away from the beach than they thought they were, then typically they try to swim back toward the shore and realize they’re making no progress,” said Brewster.
This then “causes panic and that leads them to expend a lot of energy,” he said. That’s what “results in the drowning ultimately,” he said.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
Stewart Leonard, grocery store chain president, lost his own toddler son in a swimming pool drowning incident back in 1989, inspiring him to open the Stewie the Duck Swim School – teaching children how to swim.
“The key is to stay calm, conserve energy and swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current, then head in at an angle,” Leonard told Fox News Digital.
In a rip current, “the key is to stay calm, conserve energy and swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current — then head in at an angle.” (AP Photo/Mingson Lau)
Said Brewster, “The big picture is that once you realize this is going on, don’t fight the current, because you won’t win. Relax, float, and then try to swim out of the rip.”
There are about 4,500 fatal unintentional drownings each year, with fifty percent of fatal drownings of those over the age of 15 occurring in oceans, lakes and rivers, according to the CDC.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Brewster advises beachgoers to swim near a lifeguard, not away from them.
Leonard shared that parents should be conscious of their children while at the beach.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Just like having a designated driver when you drink, have a designated watcher when kids are swimming and put your phone down so you aren’t distracted while the kids are in the water,” said Leonard.

close VideoMedieval skeletons found in heart of Brussels during archaeological excavationArchaeologists in Brussels, Belgium, recently came across the remnants of an old cemetery located in a busy part of the city. The remains date back to the Middle Ages. (Source: @mijnmivb via Facebook)
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Archaeologists recently uncovered the ancient skeletons of possible Black Death victims – buried just beneath one of London’s most popular tourist spots.
Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the organization that manages the Tower of London, shared the news with Fox News Digital. The discoveries were made during an excavation in the spring, marking the first dig at the Tower of London in three decades.
It took place ahead of a scheduled renovation of the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula, a chapel that dates back to the 15th century.
SINKHOLE IN HISTORIC CITY REVEALS MEDIEVAL HOSPITAL HIDING JUST BENEATH STREET LEVEL
“As a final resting place for many who lived or were imprisoned within the Tower’s walls – including three queens and two Catholic saints – [the church] undoubtedly has a few stories to tell,” HRP said. “But much of its earlier history remains unknown.”
It added, “Now, finds from the most significant excavation at the Tower in a generation are beginning to shed light on both the development of its chapel and some of the people connected with it.”
Archaeologists uncovered medieval burials beneath the Tower of London during a spring 2025 excavation project. (Historic Royal Palaces; iStock)
One of the most eyebrow-raising finds was a mass grave of 14th-century skeletons, which officials said were “possibly linked to the Black Death.”
In a separate discovery, archaeologists found even older graves in coffins – likely belonging to high-status individuals.
HISTORY BUFF UNCOVERS LOST MEDIEVAL MONASTERY THANKS TO STRANGE MAP SYMBOL
“Three skeletons from the late 12th or early 13th century were also uncovered,” the statement read. “These individuals appeared to have been buried in coffins — an unusual practice at the time, possibly indicating high-status burials.”
Researchers discovered 20 sets of human remains, some dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. (Historic Royal Palaces)
In total, the remains of 20 individuals were found during the excavation.
Officials also identified a fragment of a burial shroud at the site, which HRP described as “extremely rare” since it is made of fabric.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis about the people, as well as the buildings.”
“One separate burial contained two 12th- to early 13th-century pots filled with charcoal – exceptionally rare examples of medieval grave goods previously recorded only once in England,” the statement added.
“These finds will now undergo further scientific analysis.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Alfred Hawkins, a curator of historic buildings at HRP, described the excavation as a “generational opportunity.”
Part of a medieval glazed tile, seen at left, was found, along with the foundations of a chapel built under Edward I. (Historic Royal Palaces)
“These excavations were essential as part of our mission to provide greater access for people to visit this important place of worship, but they have also given us an amazing opportunity to explore the site in more depth than ever before,” he said.
In addition to the skeletal finds, archaeologists also uncovered “tantalizing hints of the chapel’s earlier incarnations,” HRP said.
“This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower.”
Though the current chapel was built in 1520, officials found evidence of “a large-scale burning event,” which points towards the destruction of an earlier structure — likely the one built by Edward I in 1287.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
“A compacted layer of Reigate stone unearthed during the dig may date even earlier – potentially to works by Henry III in 1240,” HRP said. “Elsewhere, a large section of wall and what may be a floor surface could be remnants of Henry I’s 12th-century chapel, about which very little is known.”
“This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower, offering a rare opportunity to redraw the map of the medieval fortress and enhance our understanding of those who lived, worshiped, and died there.”
In addition to skeletal discoveries, archaeologists also found a building foundation from before 1512. (Historic Royal Palaces)
Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said the project helps gain insight into Tower residents “in a way we have never been able to do before.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“But this is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis of the people, as well as the buildings, of one of England’s most evocative historic monuments.”
Andrea Margolis is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can follow her on X at @andreamargs or send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.

close VideoMedieval skeletons found in heart of Brussels during archaeological excavationArchaeologists in Brussels, Belgium, recently came across the remnants of an old cemetery located in a busy part of the city. The remains date back to the Middle Ages. (Source: @mijnmivb via Facebook)
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Archaeologists recently uncovered the ancient skeletons of possible Black Death victims – buried just beneath one of London’s most popular tourist spots.
Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the organization that manages the Tower of London, shared the news with Fox News Digital. The discoveries were made during an excavation in the spring, marking the first dig at the Tower of London in three decades.
It took place ahead of a scheduled renovation of the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula, a chapel that dates back to the 15th century.
SINKHOLE IN HISTORIC CITY REVEALS MEDIEVAL HOSPITAL HIDING JUST BENEATH STREET LEVEL
“As a final resting place for many who lived or were imprisoned within the Tower’s walls – including three queens and two Catholic saints – [the church] undoubtedly has a few stories to tell,” HRP said. “But much of its earlier history remains unknown.”
It added, “Now, finds from the most significant excavation at the Tower in a generation are beginning to shed light on both the development of its chapel and some of the people connected with it.”
Archaeologists uncovered medieval burials beneath the Tower of London during a spring 2025 excavation project. (Historic Royal Palaces; iStock)
One of the most eyebrow-raising finds was a mass grave of 14th-century skeletons, which officials said were “possibly linked to the Black Death.”
In a separate discovery, archaeologists found even older graves in coffins – likely belonging to high-status individuals.
HISTORY BUFF UNCOVERS LOST MEDIEVAL MONASTERY THANKS TO STRANGE MAP SYMBOL
“Three skeletons from the late 12th or early 13th century were also uncovered,” the statement read. “These individuals appeared to have been buried in coffins — an unusual practice at the time, possibly indicating high-status burials.”
Researchers discovered 20 sets of human remains, some dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. (Historic Royal Palaces)
In total, the remains of 20 individuals were found during the excavation.
Officials also identified a fragment of a burial shroud at the site, which HRP described as “extremely rare” since it is made of fabric.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis about the people, as well as the buildings.”
“One separate burial contained two 12th- to early 13th-century pots filled with charcoal – exceptionally rare examples of medieval grave goods previously recorded only once in England,” the statement added.
“These finds will now undergo further scientific analysis.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Alfred Hawkins, a curator of historic buildings at HRP, described the excavation as a “generational opportunity.”
Part of a medieval glazed tile, seen at left, was found, along with the foundations of a chapel built under Edward I. (Historic Royal Palaces)
“These excavations were essential as part of our mission to provide greater access for people to visit this important place of worship, but they have also given us an amazing opportunity to explore the site in more depth than ever before,” he said.
In addition to the skeletal finds, archaeologists also uncovered “tantalizing hints of the chapel’s earlier incarnations,” HRP said.
“This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower.”
Though the current chapel was built in 1520, officials found evidence of “a large-scale burning event,” which points towards the destruction of an earlier structure — likely the one built by Edward I in 1287.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
“A compacted layer of Reigate stone unearthed during the dig may date even earlier – potentially to works by Henry III in 1240,” HRP said. “Elsewhere, a large section of wall and what may be a floor surface could be remnants of Henry I’s 12th-century chapel, about which very little is known.”
“This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower, offering a rare opportunity to redraw the map of the medieval fortress and enhance our understanding of those who lived, worshiped, and died there.”
In addition to skeletal discoveries, archaeologists also found a building foundation from before 1512. (Historic Royal Palaces)
Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said the project helps gain insight into Tower residents “in a way we have never been able to do before.”
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“But this is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis of the people, as well as the buildings, of one of England’s most evocative historic monuments.”
Andrea Margolis is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can follow her on X at @andreamargs or send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.

close VideoMedieval skeletons found in heart of Brussels during archaeological excavationArchaeologists in Brussels, Belgium, recently came across the remnants of an old cemetery located in a busy part of the city. The remains date back to the Middle Ages. (Source: @mijnmivb via Facebook)
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Archaeologists recently uncovered the ancient skeletons of possible Black Death victims – buried just beneath one of London’s most popular tourist spots.
Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the organization that manages the Tower of London, shared the news with Fox News Digital. The discoveries were made during an excavation in the spring, marking the first dig at the Tower of London in three decades.
It took place ahead of a scheduled renovation of the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula, a chapel that dates back to the 15th century.
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“As a final resting place for many who lived or were imprisoned within the Tower’s walls – including three queens and two Catholic saints – [the church] undoubtedly has a few stories to tell,” HRP said. “But much of its earlier history remains unknown.”
It added, “Now, finds from the most significant excavation at the Tower in a generation are beginning to shed light on both the development of its chapel and some of the people connected with it.”
Archaeologists uncovered medieval burials beneath the Tower of London during a spring 2025 excavation project. (Historic Royal Palaces; iStock)
One of the most eyebrow-raising finds was a mass grave of 14th-century skeletons, which officials said were “possibly linked to the Black Death.”
In a separate discovery, archaeologists found even older graves in coffins – likely belonging to high-status individuals.
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“Three skeletons from the late 12th or early 13th century were also uncovered,” the statement read. “These individuals appeared to have been buried in coffins — an unusual practice at the time, possibly indicating high-status burials.”
Researchers discovered 20 sets of human remains, some dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. (Historic Royal Palaces)
In total, the remains of 20 individuals were found during the excavation.
Officials also identified a fragment of a burial shroud at the site, which HRP described as “extremely rare” since it is made of fabric.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis about the people, as well as the buildings.”
“One separate burial contained two 12th- to early 13th-century pots filled with charcoal – exceptionally rare examples of medieval grave goods previously recorded only once in England,” the statement added.
“These finds will now undergo further scientific analysis.”
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Alfred Hawkins, a curator of historic buildings at HRP, described the excavation as a “generational opportunity.”
Part of a medieval glazed tile, seen at left, was found, along with the foundations of a chapel built under Edward I. (Historic Royal Palaces)
“These excavations were essential as part of our mission to provide greater access for people to visit this important place of worship, but they have also given us an amazing opportunity to explore the site in more depth than ever before,” he said.
In addition to the skeletal finds, archaeologists also uncovered “tantalizing hints of the chapel’s earlier incarnations,” HRP said.
“This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower.”
Though the current chapel was built in 1520, officials found evidence of “a large-scale burning event,” which points towards the destruction of an earlier structure — likely the one built by Edward I in 1287.
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“A compacted layer of Reigate stone unearthed during the dig may date even earlier – potentially to works by Henry III in 1240,” HRP said. “Elsewhere, a large section of wall and what may be a floor surface could be remnants of Henry I’s 12th-century chapel, about which very little is known.”
“This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower, offering a rare opportunity to redraw the map of the medieval fortress and enhance our understanding of those who lived, worshiped, and died there.”
In addition to skeletal discoveries, archaeologists also found a building foundation from before 1512. (Historic Royal Palaces)
Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said the project helps gain insight into Tower residents “in a way we have never been able to do before.”
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“But this is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis of the people, as well as the buildings, of one of England’s most evocative historic monuments.”
Andrea Margolis is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can follow her on X at @andreamargs or send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.

close VideoBeach Mass service draws thousands of worshippersBeach Catholic draws thousands of worshippers to Long Island beaches in New York each week. Service attendees tell Fox News Digital what the Mass means to them.
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While some tourists may have a “sky’s out, thighs out” attitude toward their swim trunks, one Mediterranean town begs to differ.
The mayor of Chetaïbi, Alegeria, called for longer and looser shorts on men — issuing a decree banning them from walking around in Bermuda shorts.
“These summer outfits disturb the population. They go against our society’s moral values and sense of decency,” Mayor Layachi Allaoua said, according to The Associated Press (AP).
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“The population can no longer tolerate seeing foreigners wandering the streets in indecent clothing,” he added.
The decision sparked a regional debate over religious and traditional attire as opposed to the habits of more open-minded beachgoers.
An Algeria tourism controversy erupted when the mayor of a coastal town banned men from wearing Bermuda shorts on the beach. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum)
Officials in the coastal city of Annaba called on the mayor to rescind his order.
After two days of controversy, the mayor did reverse the order — saying he wanted to preserve “peace and tranquility” for both locals and tourists and that he was not influenced by Islamist pressure, according to AP.
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In 2023, 3.3 million people visited the North African country of Algeria, according to the tourism ministry.
“The population can no longer tolerate seeing foreigners wandering the streets in indecent clothing.” (iStock)
Islam is Algeria’s official state religion, with 99% of residents identified as Sunni Muslims, according to the CIA’s World Factbook.
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Between 1991 and 2002, the Algerian Civil War led to more openly visible religious practices in daily life.
In 2023, 3.3 million people visited the country of Algeria in North Africa. (iStock)
“Modesty is a foundational virtue of Islamic culture, which is intrinsically linked to awara,” notes a study published in the MAQOLAT: Journal of Islamic Studies.
“The idea of awara … refers to the parts of the body that must be covered to maintain privacy and dignity,” the study says.
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Men should cover their bodies from the navel to the knees — while women must cover their entire body aside from face and hands.