At least 20 coffins thought to date back to the medieval period have been discovered at an ancient burial ground found at a Preston building site.
Construction work on a new hotel and student accommodation behind the Brunel Court flats on Marsh Lane stopped when developers uncovered five coffins last month. Experts were called in to investigate the discoveries, thought to be from the 14th or 15th centuries, and it is understood at least 20 coffins have now been identified. A source at the site said some of the remains of bodies have been destroyed but many of the coffins have been exhumed in superb condition, with the wood still intact.
The expert said: "We have found at least 20 graves altogether and some of them were found on top of each other. Some of the coffins have been in extremely good nick. We have got quite a few walls coming out which could, hopefully, be the church."
Oxford Archaeology North will continue to comb the area for further coffins. A spokesman said they hope to complete their work at the site by the end of next week. Construction work has now resumed on areas of the site where archaeologists have completed their excavations.
The expert said: "We have found at least 20 graves altogether and some of them were found on top of each other. Some of the coffins have been in extremely good nick. We have got quite a few walls coming out which could, hopefully, be the church."
Oxford Archaeology North will continue to comb the area for further coffins. A spokesman said they hope to complete their work at the site by the end of next week. Construction work has now resumed on areas of the site where archaeologists have completed their excavations.
(by Matthew Squires - Preston Today, Lancashire News - 16 March 2007)
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