(CNN) Archaeologists unearthed two 500-year-old skeletons of a woman and child underneath the Tower of London's chapel, the curator of the Historic Royal Palaces announced.
The Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula is known as the burial place for famous Tower prisoners, including three queens of England: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Grey. All were executed in the 16th century, and their headless bodies were buried under the chapel without a memorial, the organization's website says.
Inside the Tower of London
London landmark: The Tower of London has stood over London for over 900 years. The fortress was established in roughly 1078 by William the Conqueror -- the first Norman King of England. Now it's a tourist hotspot, more than three million people visit each year to discover the secrets behind the Tower's stone walls.
Secrets and history: The Tower has long been home to secrets, history, myths and legends. It's played host to deaths and disappearances. Visiting in 2018, you'll struck by its size: the Tower covers 12 acres of the city -- it's almost a village in itself.
Skyline staple: William wanted the castle to be a omnipresent reminder of his victory to the people of London. The Tower remains a staple of the London skyline.
Historic exhibits: Today, the White Tower showcases historic arms and armor as part of the Line of Kings exhibition. This exhibit has been a feature of the Tower since the 17th century.
Changing trends: The exhibit charts royal armor through the ages and is a must-see for history buffs, charting how tourism trends have changed over the years.
Britain's showpieces: The Tower also plays host to Britain's Crown Jewels. Under armed guard inside the Tower, they're a marvel to behold. The Imperial State Crown -- pictured here traveling by car to the State Opening of Parliament -- was made in 1937, using precious jewels said to date back to the 1300s.
Real deal: The jewels you see in the Tower of London are the real deal, but even replica sets are worth thousands. This replica set was made in honor of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, with an estimated worth of £5,000- £7,000.
Opening ceremony: Every morning, the Tower is officially opened by the Yeoman Warders. They guard the Tower and everything inside -- and also lead tours of the Tower for tourists.
High flying job: To become a Yeoman Warder, you have to have served at least 22 years in the armed forces as a Warrant Officer or Senior Non Commissioned Officer -- and hold Long Service and Good Conduct medals.
Traditions and customs: Yeoman Warders still live inside the Tower of London with their families -- continuing a tradition that dates back to the 1400s. Some of the accommodation dates back to the 13th century.
Bird's eye view: One of the Tower of London's quirkiest residents is the Ravenmaster. Chris Skaife is a Yeoman Warder whose principal role is to look after the Tower's feathered residents.
One of a kind: "I am responsible for the safety and the welfare of our magnificent ravens," Skaife tells CNN. "My job is unique, as far as I'm aware, I am officially the only Ravenmaster in the world."
Importance of the raven: Ravens are intertwined with the Tower's history and legacy: "There are many myths and legends associated with the Tower," explains Skaife. "One such legend reminds us that should the ravens leave the Tower of London, it will crumble and a great harm will befall the Kingdom."
Royal decree: No one is sure where the ominous raven legend came from -- but when Charles II came to the throne in 1630, he decreed that there must always be six ravens at the Tower -- to ensure Britain's safety.
Bond with birds: Skaife has a particular bond with one of his ravens -- Merlin, affectionately known as Merlina -- pictured here. "My relationship with the ravens depends very much on the actual personality of each individual raven that we have here at the Tower of London," says Skaife.
Animal farm: In the 21st century London is known for its Regents Park-based zoo, but during the reign of King John (1199-1216) the Tower of London hosted the Royal Menagerie -- a large collection of exotic animals.
First elephant: The Royal Menagerie hosted the first polar bear and elephant in the UK. The elephant was a gift from Louis IX of France in 1255. The Menagerie was officially closed in 1830.
Grisly history: There have been a total of 22 executions inside the Tower of London. The last person to be executed was a German spy -- Josef Jakobs, who parachuted into England.
Lost princes: One of the Tower's greatest mysteries is the lost Princes in the Tower. These two boys disappeared in the Tower while under the custody of Richard, Duke of Gloucester in 1483.
Notorious prison: In the 1950s, infamous gangsters the Kray twins were held in the Tower for one night for failing to turn up for their national service. They were the last prisoners in the Tower.
Buried treasure: Rumor has it that there's mysterious buried treasure somewhere in the Tower -- the Lieutenant of the Tower during the Cromwell period (1649-1660) hid £20,000 of gold coins in the stone walls. The riches have yet to be discovered.
In spring this year, an excavation of the chapel site discovered the two complete skeletons, shedding new light into the history of the Tower of London.
"These individuals are the first full skeletons to be assessed by an osteoarchaeologist (bone specialist) from within the Tower of London," Alfred Hawkins, Historic Buildings Curator, said in a statement Monday announcing the discovery.
The Historic Royal Palaces wanted to make the chapel more accessible to the public, and needed to assess the grounds and what lies beneath them. Within the first two days of the dig, Hawkins and his colleagues came across fragmented remains that they later determined to be a dog.
"This burial was located beneath a mortar surface which was related to a building constructed before 1681, so we know the dog died before the construction of this building," Hawkins said.
Continuing their dig, the team came across another mortar surface that was 22 cm thick, which indicates it was a base for a floor, according to Hawkins.
"This, combined with the documentary evidence and sherds (yes 'sherds' not 'shards') of medieval glazed tile, resulted in the possibility that we had found the floor of Edward I's lost chapel which burnt down in 1513," Hawkins said.
Blanket and a coffin
Beneath that surface, the skeletons of an adult female and a child were discovered. Both found lying on their backs facing up with their feet facing east, according to Hawkins. The adult is believed to have been buried in a coffin since nails were located with the remains, while the child was likely wrapped in a blanket before burial.
Hawkins noted that the exact date of burial couldn't be determined, but it was most likely between 1450 and 1550. No burial goods, which were typical for the times, were found with the remains, but the fragments from a Roman jet bracelet were recovered.
"By looking for marks related to growth, damage, wear and disease we can create an image of how these individuals lived and died," Hawkins said about the bones.
After exhuming the skeletons, they were analyzed by a specialist and the adult was determined to be between ages 35-45, and the child age 7. The bones told the scientists a lot about the pair. Both showed signs of illness, and the adult had signs of chronic back pain. Neither had signs of a violent death, which indicates that the individuals most likely lived and worked within the Tower of London, the statement says.
"Their growth shows not a comfortable life, but one which is typical of the period in which they lived," Hawkins said.
Both were reburied in the Chapel on September 10 during a special ceremony. Hawkins said hundreds of skeletons are exhumed daily in the UK, but these two stand out to him because "they have offered us a chance to glimpse that human element of the Tower which is so easy to miss."
"This fortress has been occupied for nearly 1,000 years, but we must remember it is not only a palace, fortress and prison but that it has also been a home to those who worked within its walls."
The excavation was featured during an episode of "Inside the Tower of London" that premiered on Tuesday.
"This is the best part of performing archaeological assessments and the joy of curating a royal fortress: by examining the physical remains of the past we are able to record, understand and share how our ancestors lived and died."