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Archaeologists working on the excavation of Wellwick Farm in Buckinghamshire ahead of the construction of HS2 have discovered what they claim is an Iron Age murder victim, as well as a circular timber monument resembling the layout of Stonehenge.
A skeleton from the Iron Age site was discovered buried face
down and with hands tied. The unusual burial position of the adult male suggests
he may have been a victim of a murder or execution. Osteologists are currently
examining the skeleton for further evidence of foul play.
Aside from the discovery of the skeleton, archaeologists
found evidence of human activity at the site dating from the Neolithic to the
Medieval period, a time spanning around 4,000 years. The land to the west
of Wendover seems to have been persistently used for ceremonial activity as
archaeologists also uncovered a large circular monument of wooden posts 65
meters in diameter with features aligned with the winter solstice, similar to
Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
They also found evidence of Bronze Age and Iron Age domestic
occupation, with at least one roundhouse identified and possible structures
such as animal pens and pits used for disposing food. During the Roman period,
this occupation may have moved to the current location of Wendover but the
Wellwick Farm site was still used for burials. In a square enclosure on the
site, archaeologists discovered a skeleton in a coffin that was lined with
lead, with the outer coffin likely made of wood. Archaeologists believe that
the buried individual must have been someone of high status.
The section of the HS2 route is being prepared to build the
Wendover Green Tunnel and the Wendover North Cutting. The archaeology programme
is a central part of HS2’s ground preparation works for Phase One of the
project – London to Birmingham.
Dr Rachel Wood, project archaeologist said: “We already knew that Buckinghamshire is rich in archaeology but discovering a site showing human activity spanning 4,000 years came as a bit of a surprise to us.
“The death of the Wellwick Farm man remains a mystery to us
but there aren’t many ways you end up in a bottom of a ditch, face down, with
your hands bound. We hope our osteologists will be able to shed more light on
this potentially gruesome death.
“The large wooden ceremonial structure, the Roman lead
burial and the mystery of the skeleton at Wellwick Farm helps bring alive the
fact that people lived, worked and died in this area long before we came along.”