Archaeological monitoring records disarticulated and articulated human remains in a churchyard, suggesting historical burial practices.
The AMR comprised the observation by a competent archaeologist of all intrusive groundworks associated with the undertaken wall repairs. These works comprised the hand excavation of a trench to remove a tree root (Trench 1), and the machine excavation of a further trench for the installation of a support/foundation for the perimeter wall of the churchyard. Any human skeletal material identified during the course of the AMR was not retained. Where disturbed, this was re-buried nearby (and within the existing churchyard) by the groundworks contractor. Records were maintained and deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential, but no deposits were identified that required sampling. In November 2024, Cotswold Archaeology carried out a programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording during groundworks associated with the removal and repair of the western wall of the churchyard at St Giles Church, Great Coxwell, Faringdon, Oxfordshire. Human skeletal material, in the form of a disarticulated skull and the partially exposed articulated remains of a further individual, was exposed in a trench excavated adjacent to the western boundary of the churchyard. The disarticulated skull was reburied within the churchyard, whilst the articulated human remains remained in-situ as these were not impacted by the groundworks undertaken. No further features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed and no artefactual was observed or recovered.
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J Jansen (2024) studied this question.