Ancient Bones Unearthed in Home Renovation Sparked Police Investigation
A routine kitchen addition in southeastern England uncovered approximately 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon remains, temporarily turning a suburban home into a crime scene.
A kitchen renovation in Wye, Kent, England, took an unexpected turn in spring 2019 when builders discovered ancient human bones, initiating a police investigation that lasted for days. The remains, later identified as approximately 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon, were finally re-interred in August during a ceremony at a local church.
Ross Sledger, the homeowner, was at work when the builder initially reported the find. Sledger recalled thinking the bones might belong to a farm animal or a pet, stating, "I said, 'Great,' thinking it was farming or pets." However, the builder insisted the remains were human, prompting Sledger's shock and disbelief.
Approximately ten police officers were dispatched to the property to meticulously examine the backyard. The investigation uncovered remains from a second body, and the total findings included a femur, two skulls, ribs, parts of a pelvis, and fragments of a humerus and finger bones. Police initially treated the site as a potential modern-day crime scene, with an officer remaining on-site overnight.
"They thought it was a crime scene," Sledger commented. "They had to have an officer overnight, and every half hour he had to get out of his car."
After about 48 hours, specialists confirmed that the remains were ancient and not connected to any contemporary crime. Sledger later found additional bone fragments, including what he described as "knuckles and fingers," while working on artificial grass installation in his backyard. This discovery caused some anxiety about potential delays to further renovation work.
Following the conclusion of the police investigation, the ancient remains were transferred to a historical society and subsequently to a local vicar. The process of arranging a final resting place involved some bureaucratic hurdles, Sledger noted.
The re-interment ceremony in August featured the hymn "Jerusalem," which Sledger felt was a fitting tribute. This incident echoes other historical discoveries made in residential properties in the UK, such as a hoard of 70 historic English coins found by a couple in Hampshire in 2020, which later sold for over £380,000.