Builders stop for skeleton dig (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Builders stop for skeleton dig

BUILDERS laying foundations for three new houses on the former cinema site in Malmesbury were forced to stop work when three medieval skeletons were found during excavations.

Archaeologist Alistair Barber found the remains at the site behind the Whole Hog. They were removed this week to be recorded and photographed by a specialist.

Mr Barber, who works for the Kemble-based Cotswold Archaeological Trust said: "We were called in as a routine measure as the site is next to the Abbey, and we started to find pieces of human bone.

"We found the two skulls protruding into the shaft, so we extended the search and found the bodies."

He believes there could be as many as ten more skeletons nearby, which will have to be excavated before developers Chase Homes can continue building work.

"Chase Homes have been very helpful towards us when we found the remains.

"We believe that the skeletons could be 12th to 14th century, but it appears that the cinema site disturbed some of the graves."

Mr Barber said that Rev David Littlefair had given permission for the remains to be reburied in the abbey grounds.

The delay, which could be up to six months, comes as a blow to the developers, who fought a two-year battle to get planning permission on the site.