NHER 61905 (Monument record) - Medieval graves within burial ground of Becket’s Chapel

June 2015. Excavation.
A small archaeological excavation took place at this site after human remains were exposed during the installation of broadband architecture.
The human remains were found to be an situ inhumation burial lying within an east-to-west aligned grave. The bones were those of a 12 year old child and there was evidence for an infected facial injury which may have been the cause of death. An adjacent grave was excavated to the required formation depth but no further human remains were encountered.
Although no dating evidence was recovered from these graves, a medieval date seems likely. A previous discovery of human remains to the east of Becket’s Chapel had suggested it was probably associated with a burial ground (NHER 31990), something which work at this site appears to have now confirmed. It was however noted that the lack of a developed subsoil may indicate that this burial ground did not receive a great number of internments.
Both graves were partially sealed by the foundations of the post-medieval building that lies immediately to the east. These footings were made of re-used medieval limestone blocks and soft red bricks.
No artefacts were recovered during this work.
See report (S1) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.312).
P. Watkins (HES), 31 October 2016. Amended 27 May 2019.