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Dr
Elizabeth
Popescu
Head of Post-Excavation & Publications
Oxford Archaeology (Cambridge)
15 Trafalgar Way
Bar Hill
Cambridgeshire
CB23 8SQ
Tel: 01954 01223-850552
Fax: 01954 273376
Two watching briefs at the top of the Castle Mound (T49 & 51) took place prior to the insertion of a temporary bridge (Fig_4.140Fig_4_140.jpg). Although it was anticipated that the documented 13th-century curtain wall around the top of the motte might be located during this work, in the event a robber cut proved to have removed the perimeter wall. This cut was the unexpected resting place for a group of human burials, comprising six adults and a child.
The excavated burials appear to have been buried naked wrapped in shrouds, although one had a leather strap around his ankle, perhaps from some restraining device. The adults exhibit a slightly shorter stature than those buried in earlier cemeteries at the site and the group as a whole indicates a remarkably wide range of pathologies indicating heavy work, although no particular evidence for undernourishment (Anderson in Shepherd Popescu forthcoming b). The bones of three individuals demonstrated stress conditions indicative of habitual use of low seats, while trauma to the lower legs may indicate participation in a ?chain gang. Numerous head wounds were evident and include blows from a sword or axe, one of which was severe enough to have caused localised brain damage.