Neolithic skeleton among finds unearthed at HS2 site

Archaeological excavations for

HS2 Ltd at Wellwick Farm in Buckinghamshire have uncovered a circular timber monument and an iron age skeleton buried face down in a ditch with its hands tied.

The skeleton is an adult male who was buried with his hands bound together under his pelvis. It is suggested this unusual position means he could have been murdered or executed.

Investigations in the area indicate evidence of human activity dating from the Neolithic period 4,000 years ago to medieval times. HS2 Ltd says land west of Wendover appears to have been used for ceremonial activity, as a large circular monument of wooden posts, 65 metres in diameter and aligned with the winter solstice, has been uncovered.

At Wellwick Farm, evidence of domestic occupation, including at least one roundhouse, has been identified.

Although it is thought that during the Roman period occupation moved to the current location of Wendover, the site was still used for burials.

Archaeologists discovered a skeleton in a lead-lined coffin which would probably have had a wooden outer casing, indicating that the deceased was someone of high status with the means to pay for this expensive method of burial.

Project archaeologist Dr Rachel Wood 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.”