| Description | Excavation in advance of development, Ferrybridge Road, Pontefract. Exposed the remains of a substantial medieval cemetery, probably associated with St John's Priory (PRN 2088; NB this site is within the Scheduled Area!) The cemetery appears to have been bounded on the north by a substantial two phase ditch (earliest phase 11th/ 12th c.) which showed indications of a possible gateway. The general site of the cemetery had been known for some years. Over 300 skeletons which were removed from the area immediately to the east in 1873 during the construction of a malthouse (now demolished) were evidently components of the same site, and skeletons had occasionally eroded from the cliff face which formed the south side of the 1986/1987 excavation area. The 1986/ 1987 excavation area gave some indication of substantial Victorian clearance, particularly in the east where the only graves extant were those cut into bedrock. 81 skeletons were recovered during both phases of excavation; the proportion of juvenile skeletons was unusually low, possibly indicating that a specific section of the cemetery, not yet discovered, was reserved for child burials. No evidence for the use of a coffin was found in any of the burials. Not all the grave cuts exposed in the western part of the site were emptied, as there was no immediate threat to the physical safety of the remains in this area. (addendum, Sep 1991 habitual dumping of rubbish in this area has been noted, and may lead to the contamination/destruction of the remaining burials. Needs to be Medieval pottery and a single cruciform bronze earring were recovered from the grave fills, and an arrowhead is said by E. Houlder to have been lodged in the ribs of a skeleton recovered through erosion in 1959. Substantial quantities of 4th c. pot (also from grave fills; evidently residual) and two linear features which appeared to pre date the cemetery may indicate Roman activity on the site. Note that there is still concern for the safety of the graves left in situ. |