Ancient burial site found at Boscastle

AN ANCIENT burial site dating from the Dark Ages has been discovered at Boscastle during work to create a new waste water scheme for the area.

A pagan and Christian cemetery, including at least 18 graves, was unearthed during the setting up of a compound.

The discovery prompted South West Water (SWW) to call in experts to help understand the significance of the find.

Experts said the particular type of graves found were extremely rare.

Matter of time

Kate Stokes, SWW's ecologist and environmental planner, said: "Much of the north coast of Cornwall is an historic landscape of medieval origin, so we knew it was only a matter of time before we would discover an archaeological site.

"On this project, archaeologists from Cornwall Council advised us that once the finds were properly recorded and samples taken to date the features, they should be covered up so that future technologies can be used to investigate the finds in full."

Cornwall Council archaeologist project officer Carl Thorpe said: "We have worked closely with South West Water to ensure that all buried archaeological remains encountered during the scheme are completely recorded and protected.

"The cemetery of cist (stone coffin) graves that are lined with upright stones, which was uncovered during soil stripping on a site compound, is of particular importance because cist graves are rare in Cornwall and it is unusual to have a mix of pagan and Christian burials.

"Although no human bones have survived on the site, a rare example of a whole 'Gwithian style' jar dating from the sixth to eighth centuries AD was recovered from alongside one of the cists."

The graves have remained undisturbed and have been covered by sand and terram (thick plastic covering) to ensure they are preserved and fully protected.

After SWW's waste water scheme is completed the field will be reinstated with topsoil and handed back to the landowner.

Local historian Anne Knight said it was known that areas along the north Cornwall coast contained ancient settlements, and felt there could be more discoveries during the waste water project.

"It's an exciting find and I know Cornish people in particular feel they have a very long link to the ancient history of the county, and when you find a link like this to the past, it's a wonderful thing,'' she said.

A dedicated website has been launched by SWW at www.southwestwater.co.uk/bbtcleansweep, to keep people up to date with all the latest news from the scheme.

When completed, the waste water scheme will serve Boscastle, Bossiney and Tintagel.