Link to East Brighton Golf Club - EBGC
Story from the Evening Argus (Monday 6th October 2003)
by kind permission of the Evening Argus
Buried for 5,000 years
Detective work at ancient grave site
It was a smile that had not been seen for more than 5,000 years. The
ancient and largely intact skull of a teenager emerged from tile
earth of the hills above Brighton on Saturday. Builders undertaking
initial excavation work at East Brighton Golf Club bad disturbed the
remains earlier in the week as archaeologists investigated the site,
an ancient burial ground.
Members of Brighton and Hove Archaeology Society had been invited to
examine the area ear-marked for the golf club's new equipment shed.
After removing earth in the side of the hill they discovered pieces
of bone visible in a grave measuring 6 ft by 18in.
Initial examination suggested the remains could date back to
Neolithic, Saxon or Roman times. Work to excavate the grave began on
Friday and by the following day the team were able to take a
fascinating glimpse into the past as they carefully removed the soil
surrounding the skeleton.
Its crouched foetal-like position dates the remains to the Neolithic
period of 3000 to 3500 BC Archaeologists were still unable to tell if
the remains were male or female but said the person was younger than
22 at the time of death, most probably 18 or 19. The teeth were
almost perfectly intact, though closer examination revealed one
missing where the person may have had an abscess. It was unclear
whether a dent in the side of the skull was caused before or after
burial. Parts of what appeared to be a necklace were found near the
body, as were broken pottery and a knife blade.
John Funnel, of the archaeology society, said:
"The skeleton has been badly cut by the diggers but we've got
the skull. the legs and hopefully the arms. The body has lain there
for 5,000 to 6,000 years."
by Deborah Tucknott deborah.tucknott@theargus.co.uk

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