NHER 40365 (Monument record) - Possible Saxon or medieval human and animal remains, Canons Walk

April 2004. Field Observation.
A human skull with detached mandible was found in a trench during demolition of flats. The skull had falled from the side of the trench following removal of a concrete slab by machine. Examination of the trench observed a possible pit or ditch feature filled with dark soil within which an animal jaw bone was visible in section. The skull may have originated from this feature, which appeared to have survived between a concrete culvert carrying an electricity cable to the west and the foundations of the flats to the east.
The skull has been identified as that of an adult male, aged approximately 45-50, with well-worn teeth from a rough diet (S3). The animal bones from the pit feature have been identified as a lower jaw from a young adult cow and a sheep or goat metatarsal with marks from butchering (S3).
See (S1-4) for further details.
E. Rose (NLA) 4 May 2004.
Updated H. Hamilton (NLA), 30 July 2008.

May 2004.
The skull was reburied in churchyard of St Mary the Less (NHER 5909).
E. Rose (NLA) 21 May 2004.

July 2004. Field Observation.
Further human bones were found by workmen while excavating trenches for building footings. Examination of the trenches identified a pocket of dark soil ca. 0.75 deep in the east side of a trench located immediately north of the feature identified in April 2004 and a second possible grave feature on approximately the same alignment in the east face of another trench. The workmen stated that the bones had come from these features, but had not kept the remains from each feature separated. The assemblage included two skulls, one considerably larger than the other, but both with heavily worn adult teeth. The bones were replaced in the features, which were surrounded by boards so that the concrete could be poured around them.
See (S5) for further details.
E. Rose (NLA) 5 July 2004.
Updated H. Hamilton (NLA), 30 July 2008.