Find Spot record MLI86750 - Prehistoric human skull fragments found on land at Branston Island, Branston and Mere
Summary
Prehistoric human skull fragments found on land at Branston Island, Branston and Mere
Type and Period (1)
- FINDSPOT (Later Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
PRN 63503
Archaeological evaluation (trenching) was undertaken during the excavation of a new soke dyke on land at Branston Island, Branston and Mere. Fragments of a human skull were recovered from the surface of the ploughsoil, approximately 6.5m to the west of the original soke dyke. There were a number of fragments of temporal and parietal bones from the cranial vault, but insufficient material to indicate the sex of the individual. Three maxillary (upper jaw) teeth were also recovered. Ploughing had shattered the skull, but it was evident that it could not have been in the ploughsoil for very long. Consequently, it appears likely that the skull was deposited among spoil recently cleaned from the bottom and sides of the soke dyke. The bone was quite dark raising the possibility that it had lain within, or close to the peat beds. While it may have been detached from a skeleton when the soke dyke was cleaned, it is also possible that the skull was deposited in isolation, and may represent a late prehistoric votive deposit.{1}{2}
Sources/Archives (2)
- <1> SLI9622 Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Dec 2002. Report on a Programme of Archaeological Fieldwork Undertaken on Branston Island, Branston. BILD01.
- <2> SLI9623 Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Dec 2002. Report on a Programme of Archaeological Fieldwork Undertaken on Branston Island, Branston. LCNCC 2001.183.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | TF 10440 70480 (point) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | BRANSTON AND MERE, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
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External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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