Published Date:
20 September 2006
THE DISCOVERY of human remains just half a metre below ground level brought digging work to an abrupt halt on Monday morning in Croft Street Horncastle.
A partial skeleton, a mixture of bones, sections of three human jaws and two intact glass bottles were unearthed in a garden at the home of Sarah Town.
A large well in immaculate condition was also found; the entrance of which is divided equally between Sarah's property and that of her neighbour Maria Benton.
Both women are having extensions to their respective adjoining properties.
On finding the remains, Sarah said: "I was a bit freaked out at first, but now it is exciting, especially for the children."
Her son, Alex, added: "It is unbelievable how much stuff you can find in a little part of the garden."
Muckton archaeologist, Marc Berger, was already on site when the remains were found as planning conditions stipulated an archaeological watching brief was required.
About the remains, Marc said: "It's not particularly new knowledge and a question mark remains over the date of the burials."
He believes they could be Roman, or from the plague which struck in the 13th and 14th centuries or possibly mediaeval times.
At the time of going to press, Marc was waiting for a license from the Department of Constitutional Affairs to continue the excavation.
This is required as a resting place has been disturbed and there is a need to respect the dignity of the humans buried on the site.
Croft Street, once known as Church Street is designated as a potential burial site.
The New Jerusalem Chapel on Croft Street is where three lead coffins were found in 1908 and later six burial sites were found in the grounds of Croft House.
The remains will be transported to the University of Cambridge for analysis and depending on their significance they could be housed in a Horncastle church or Lincoln museum.
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Last Updated:
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Source:
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Location:
Horncastle