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Council accused of keeping 300 grave cemetery find 'hush hush' | Council accused of keeping 300 grave cemetery find 'hush hush' |
(about 17 hours later) | |
A large pre-Christian cemetery containing about 300 graves, along with evidence of a "horse burial", has been unearthed in a village in Somerset. | A large pre-Christian cemetery containing about 300 graves, along with evidence of a "horse burial", has been unearthed in a village in Somerset. |
The "important and complex" site was discovered at Yatton last year during works to develop the land for housing. | The "important and complex" site was discovered at Yatton last year during works to develop the land for housing. |
But North Somerset Council has been accused of keeping the find "hush, hush" and of not informing residents. | But North Somerset Council has been accused of keeping the find "hush, hush" and of not informing residents. |
The council said it "seems" like a cover-up, but publicising cemetery excavations was not common practice. | The council said it "seems" like a cover-up, but publicising cemetery excavations was not common practice. |
The site sits just below Cadbury Hill, which has the remains of an Iron Age fort and a Roman hill fort. | The site sits just below Cadbury Hill, which has the remains of an Iron Age fort and a Roman hill fort. |
'Almost scandalous' | 'Almost scandalous' |
Mark Horton, professor of archaeology at the University of Bristol, said the find could be an "extensive early Christian Roman site" which "would be of national significance". | Mark Horton, professor of archaeology at the University of Bristol, said the find could be an "extensive early Christian Roman site" which "would be of national significance". |
"I'm amazed there hasn't been more public communication between the archaeologists, the developer and the local community - it's almost scandalous," he said. | "I'm amazed there hasn't been more public communication between the archaeologists, the developer and the local community - it's almost scandalous," he said. |
"It's normal procedure - even if the public aren't allowed inside - to put information on the outside about what's been found and it does seem to be really bad practice that there's such secrecy about this project." | "It's normal procedure - even if the public aren't allowed inside - to put information on the outside about what's been found and it does seem to be really bad practice that there's such secrecy about this project." |
Local resident Steve Bridger, from campaign group No Moor Development, said the discovery had been "kept so hush hush". | |
"We want to be involved as a community, if there's something significant taking place in Yatton," he said. | "We want to be involved as a community, if there's something significant taking place in Yatton," he said. |
However Cat Lodge, archaeologist for the council, said it "usually" gave out information, but the human remains made the site "sensitive". | However Cat Lodge, archaeologist for the council, said it "usually" gave out information, but the human remains made the site "sensitive". |
"It seems like we've been covering it up, but it's common practice not to publicise the excavation of cemeteries like this to avoid risking the integrity of the site," she said. | "It seems like we've been covering it up, but it's common practice not to publicise the excavation of cemeteries like this to avoid risking the integrity of the site," she said. |
In a statement, developer Boor Homes said "no identified grave goods" or "datable artefacts" had been found and the "skeletons are in varying states of survival". | In a statement, developer Boor Homes said "no identified grave goods" or "datable artefacts" had been found and the "skeletons are in varying states of survival". |
It added that once investigations were complete and the human remains exhumed, the development would continue. | It added that once investigations were complete and the human remains exhumed, the development would continue. |
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