Monument record 726/32 - Possible 4th century cemetery

Two graves were found in waterlogged deposits, one with a wooden coffin. Further graves were apparently spotted by workmen.

{1}Two graves were found in badly waterlogged gravel, workmen suggested a further 9-10 graves and one coffin excavated by JCB and left on the bank. No archaeological evidence was found to support these claims. It was estimated that the limit of the cemetery was at least 8m to the SW of Grave A 9562/5/1. The workmen stated that the 9-10 graves had all lain in an EW direction.

One of the two burials was extended (cramped), with one and possibly both hands under the left femur. The feet were turned up against the end of the grave pit. The skeleton being a male of approx 40 years of age. The grave pit contained possible remains of a wooden coffin or bier.
The other burial was extended, with the hands lying over the pelvis, the grave was not cut large enough to accommodate lower leg bones. These bones were not located.

<1> Brown AE, Woodfield C, 1983, Excavations at Towcester, Northamptonshire: the Alchester Road Suburb, p67-8 (Article). SNN104558.

Record last edited

Jun 11 2025 10:57AM