This exciting discovery was made by archaeologists from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), using a method known as carbon-14 dating. East Herts Council is seeking further funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to establish whether the rest of the burials are from the same period.
The burials, situated close to the remnants of Waytemore Castle, were shallow, with some stacked one on top of another. While none of them contained ‘grave goods’ such as jewellery or pottery, some were buried with stone ‘pillows’ and most were buried with their head to the west and their feet to the east. The presence of juveniles through to adults suggests that the area was a burial site, and the orientation of the graves suggests they were Christian burials.
Through DNA analysis, archaeologists will be able to establish any familial relationships and work out if these people were originally from Bishop’s Stortford, as well as a broader picture of how they lived, their diet and their health.
Tee Edmonds, Site Supervisor at Mola said: “The dating of these two burials back to the 10th century raises fascinating questions about the development of Bishop’s Stortford. We are starting to see a pattern of extended human activity associated with Waytemore Castle. We have the spaces where they lived, lit fires, built structures, fenced areas, divided land and disposed of their food waste. We also have the spaces where they were interred. Further digs, analysis of the archaeological remains and dating of the bones will help fill in the gaps we have in the archaeological record of Waytemore Castle.”
Leader of East Herts Council, Ben Crystall said: “It’s going to be fascinating to learn more about the early population and origins of Bishop’s Stortford. The excavations here at Castle Park, together with recent digs at Grange Paddocks and in areas where new housing is being built really highlight the rich history of this part of East Herts.”
In addition to the investigations carried out by MOLA, community excavations undertaken by Friends of Castle Park have discovered further evidence that people were working or living in and around Waytemore Castle. This evidence includes walls, pits and postholes as well as pottery, which date from the 11th and 12th centuries. The latest community dig took place this summer.
The area of Castle Park where the burials were discovered has now been backfilled to ensure the protection and preservation of the site. However, plans for landscaping the area have been put on hold while further investigations are carried out, to ensure that future changes are appropriate to its archaeological and historical significance.
The redevelopment of Castle Park has been funded by National Lottery players via The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Community Fund and delivered by East Herts Council in partnership with Bishop’s Stortford Town Council, with the support of Countryside Management Services.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
