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Original poster

With a human skull in the garden?

640 replies

Slippersandacuppa · 07/05/2016 20:45

Because I've never been in this situation before.

We've been tidying up the garden and have piles of rubble all over the place. One of our rickety old fences borders a graveyard (very old belonging to ancient church) and I'm assuming the skull sort of drifted under our fence and has been near the top of the soil for a while. I hope.

I've googled but can't seem to find much info. I'll be contacting the parish council on Monday but wondered if it warrants a call to 101 (or whatever it is) to register it just in case it's not a graveyard wanderer Confused

Anyone had a similar experience?!

OP posts:
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HookedOnHooking · 07/05/2016 20:53

Mate of mine found human remains in their garden from an ancient cemetery. It's something her boys were most upset about. She was more upset about the massive delays and disruption.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 07/05/2016 20:53

I would also call 101. I can't imagine OP wanted to keep it!

HookedOnHooking · 07/05/2016 20:52

I realise that it would be extremely weird to want to keep it.

Sparklingbrook · 07/05/2016 20:52

Ooh maybe Time Team could come round and dig some trenches? Grin

EdithWeston · 07/05/2016 20:51

Yes, first call is police, as they will want to check that it is a historical not recent artefact.

Assuming it is historical, you then need to contact a suitable body organisation to take charge of appropriate re-interment. As you're right by a churchyard, then yes PCC for church re-burial (parish priest can always ask diocese if not sure). Other good source of guidance is your nearest university archaeology department.

zzzzz · 07/05/2016 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gamerchick · 07/05/2016 20:50

Just ring police an ask advice. If you're lucky you'll get your whole garden dug over.

Hawkmoth · 07/05/2016 20:50

Doesn't Someone have to come out and certify death? I think you have to call the police.

BoGrainger · 07/05/2016 20:49

Afaik all human remains need reporting. It could be an unsolved case. More likely to be from the graveyard but it needs verifying.

Original poster
Slippersandacuppa · 07/05/2016 20:49

Right ho, will call them.

Very cool Doreen! Bet that livens the job up somewhat.

We're marked it out in a sort of CSI type way and won't be doing any more digging around there!

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/05/2016 20:48

where are you keeping it til monday?

HookedOnHooking · 07/05/2016 20:48

You need to call the police and report it. They'll organise archeological stuff.

It'll all be a massive pain in the arse and go in for months and you won't even get to keep it at the end.

DoreenLethal · 07/05/2016 20:47

Yes definitely. I used to work in civil engineering and we had to call it in whenever we found bones whilst digging foundations for roads or stuff.

Once we found an old moonshine distillery under a long ago bombed pub.

Oakmaiden · 07/05/2016 20:46

Hm. I would call 101, or whatever, just in case.

But make sure you tell them you live next door to a graveyard.

Flossieflower01 · 07/05/2016 20:46

Ring the non emergency police number- you can't assume it's from the graveyard!