What began as a routine kitchen renovation for Ross Sledger and his wife in Wye, Kent, England, transformed into an unexpected archaeological event and a temporary crime scene investigation when ancient human bones were unearthed in their garden.
The discovery occurred in the spring of 2019 when a builder working on a kitchen addition at Sledger's home found what appeared to be human remains. Initially, Sledger, 49, dismissed the find, believing them to be bones from a farm animal or a pet. "He said, ‘I’ve found some bones,’ and I said, ‘Great,’ thinking it was farming or pets," Sledger recalled.
However, the builder's insistence that the bones were significant prompted a closer look. "As you can imagine, a lot of language came out of my mouth. I was thinking, ‘You must be joking, this is a wind-up,’ but he said, ‘I’m deadly serious,'" Sledger recounted.
The situation escalated when police were called to the property. Approximately 10 officers descended on the home to investigate, treating the site as a potential crime scene. The discovery included a femur, two skulls, ribs, part of a pelvis, and fragments of a humerus and finger bones. The initial discovery led to a second body's remains being found in the backyard.
"They thought it was a crime scene," Sledger said. "They had to have an officer overnight, and every half hour he had to get out of his car." This heightened police presence and activity also inadvertently disturbed Sledger's dog, leading to a sleepless night.
Within approximately 48 hours, specialists confirmed that the remains were ancient, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period, roughly 1,000 years old, and not indicative of a recent crime. Despite the confirmation, Sledger later found more bone fragments, described as "knuckles and fingers," while installing artificial grass in his garden.
"I was thinking, ‘Oh no, this is going to delay it. I’ve got bricklayers next week,'" Sledger said. "I was thinking, ‘This could take months,’ but luckily, they were done and dusted by the end of the weekend, which was good."
After the police investigation concluded, the ancient remains were transferred to a historical society and subsequently to a local vicar. The process of arranging a formal re-interment took time, involving navigating permissions and regulations. "I think it was a bit more red tape than anything else," Sledger noted.
This past August, the remains were finally laid to rest during a ceremony at a church near Sledger's home. The vicar selected the hymn “Jerusalem” for the service, which Sledger felt was a fitting tribute.
This is not the first time backyard discoveries have brought historical finds to light in the UK. In 2020, a Hampshire couple found a hoard of 70 historic English coins while working near a flower bed. The coins were later sold at auction in November 2025 for over £380,000 (approximately $500,000).