The bodies of about 800 children aged six and under have been unearthed by archaeologists in a burial ground, ahead of the construction of a road in Lancashire, and were among 1,967 bodies exhumed at St Peter’s Burial Ground, which opened in 1821 in Blackburn.
The large number of dying due to a lack of good sanitation and medicines leading to a high mortality rate. These bodies were exhumed from about 30% of the burial ground from 1860. Dave Henderson, an expert in the study of bones said that full analysis of the skeletons has not yet started, but the team believed most of the children had died from infections in the lungs and guts and they would have died quite quickly so the signs may not turn up in their skeletons. The work could “throw light on the lives of ordinary people” outside London, where most previous large studies of this era have been carried out, he said.
Among the finds were 16 coins in circulation at the time of King Georg IV.
Julie Franklin, finds manager, said objects found in graves – including “some incredibly poignant findings of hands still bearing cheap brass wedding rings, or children buried with colorful glass bead jewellery” – revealed what was important to their loved ones.
The Bishop of Blackburn will hold a memorial service this summer and reburialswill take place in a different part of the graveyard.
Source: BBC
By: Archa Dave
