Post-medieval inhumations in the graveyard, south of All Saints Church, Great Chesterford (EHER 83297)

Test pitting in 2011 recorded human remains in all three test pits.

2011. Test pitting. The test pits revealed deposits of grave earth more than 1.16m to 1.58m thick. Contained within the grave earth were inhumation burials and residual human bone. The grave earth comprised brownish grey friable sand silt clay with occasional gravel stones and was more than 1.16m to 1.58m deep. Undisturbed natural deposits and the base of the grave earth were not exposed. Two human skeletons extended into each of the test pits. The skeletons lay at different levels and were orientated east-west. All faced east and lay on their backs. Grave cut 4 in test pit 3 was the only identifiable grave cut. An elongated void surrounding inhumation 11 in test pit 3 and numerous coffin nails implied the former presence of coffins. No coffin fittings were found apart from a small fragment of copper-alloy plate and the aforementioned nails. Both of the inhumations in test pit 3 were missing parts of their bodies due to later grave cuts, including grave cut 5. Inhumation 10 had lost its shins, and inhumation 11 the upper two thirds of its body. <1>