AN archaeological dig on a Leyburn building site where human remains were discovered is now complete.

In October workmen who are constructing an extra care facility for the elderly on behalf of Broadacres Housing Association in Harmby Road Leyburn uncovered two human skeletons. After calling in a team of experts, further work unearthed the stone foundations of a pre-conquest Christian church along with several artefacts, which may date back to the Bronze Age.

The York-based firm On-Site Archaeology have worked alongside the builders carefully cataloguing the exciting discoveries. They have concluded that the two skeletons probably that of a young man and an older woman both found in a crouching condition were early Christian burials due to the east west alignment of the bodies.

Subsequent work uncovered the outline of a building that predates the Norman Conquest as Projects Officer Graham Bruce explained. He said:” The site is probably a family chapel possibly dating back to Saxon or early Norman times, as it is a clean area with relatively little waste. There is probably a rubbish dump nearby.

“Interestingly, the Doomsday Book mentions two manors in Leyburn and this may relate to the abandoned settlement.”

The team of scientist’s work subsequently unearthed two other small structures, which predate the church. It is possible they are Bronze Age (2600-700BC) and Iron Age (700BC-100AD) dwellings. Finds relating to these periods include; animal bones, flint tools, and pottery shards. Evidence of medieval farming was also discovered above the church foundations.

Archaeological work has now finished on the site, although the team are still examining the finds and may attempt to establish the age of the bodies using the latest Carbon 14 dating techniques.

Mr Bruce concluded:” All the items we have gathered will be offered to Broadacres, the site’s owners.

“The two bodies may be reburied somewhere on the site, as that it where they were buried originally.

“At some stage we will produce a report on the dig and our later work which will be available to the public.”