THE re-interment of 19 Anglo-Saxon skeletons found during an archaeological dig has been marked during a special church service.
Remains unearthed from 13 graves in 2013 revealed at least 19 people had been buried at the former site the 17th century Kirkleatham Hall School, near Redcar.
The coffin containing the remains of the Anglo Saxons. Picture: STUART BOULTON
Since the discovery was made, a team of archaeologists and clergy connected to St Cuthbert’s Church, Kirkleatham, have organised a reburial for the men, women and children believed to have lived around 700AD.
The Bishop of Whitby, the Right Reverend Paul Ferguson, was joined by the Rev Matt Strand, vicar of St Cuthbert’s Church during the re-interment service on Saturday, November 26.
Redcar and Cleveland Mayor Barry Hunt and Mayoress Olwyn Peters were also part of the congregation, alongside churchwardens and Kirkleatham community members.
Sprigs of rosemary were lowered into the final resting place of the Anglo-Saxons, believed to be the remains of at least nine women and seven men.
A tablet placed on the grave reads: “Here lie the remains of 19 Anglo-Saxon Christians reburied in 2016”.
The site of the cemetery lies to the east of St Cuthbert’s Church, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.
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