Researchers have claimed that the University of Winchester is obstructing efforts to excavate the purported remains of King Alfred the Great, believed to be located beneath a car park in Winchester, Hampshire.
Historian Graham Phillips claims to have identified the resting place of the 9th-century monarch after a 13-year investigation. Matt Everett of Dragonfly Films, which is involved in publicizing the findings, stated that their attempts to collaborate with the university for a dig have been rebuffed.
"They didn’t properly look at or read what I gave them properly. They just said this leads to a dead end," Everett said. He suggested that minimal effort, such as ground scanning by students, could have been undertaken without damage, but the university has not engaged with their proposal. Everett speculated that the university's reluctance stems from the idea not originating from within their academic departments, drawing parallels to the discovery of Richard III's remains.
Alfred the Great, who reigned from 871 to 899, is renowned for his defense of England against Viking incursions and for laying foundations for a unified English nation. He died in 899 and his remains have a complex burial history, having been moved multiple times. They were initially buried in Winchester Cathedral in 1110 and later transferred to Hyde Abbey. The abbey was demolished after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.
According to historical records, bones believed to be Alfred's were reportedly found in 1866 during the construction of a workhouse on the Hyde Abbey site. However, subsequent archaeological work in 2013 by the University of Winchester indicated these bones dated to approximately 200 years after Alfred's death, prompting Phillips' renewed search.
In 2013, University of Winchester archaeologists, alongside local historical groups, excavated an unmarked grave at St. Bartholomew's Church. During this investigation, a fragment of a pelvis bone, dated between 895 and 1017, was identified from remains at the Hyde Abbey site. Researchers noted this fragment might be the only known interred portion of Alfred or his son, King Edward.
Everett expressed frustration, stating that the university's lack of engagement hinders their ability to proceed with a full excavation, which he believes the public is eager to see. He emphasized the need for university backing to secure permission from Winchester City Council for any excavation work.
Dr. Katherine Weikert, Head of the School of Humanities at the University of Winchester, acknowledged the public's interest in medieval history, particularly concerning Alfred in Winchester. She confirmed the university's ongoing work with the Hyde900 community archaeology project investigating the Abbey complex, while declining to comment directly on the allegations of being snubbed.