Burying the past
Submitted by coldrum on Sunday, 24 June 2007 Page Views: 1133
Other ArchaeologyCountry: England County: WiltshireInternal Links:
THE bodies of four ancient Highworth residents have been returned to the town's earth in a unique ceremony.
Remains of the former dwellers, which date back as far as the Bronze Age, were buried at Highworth Ceremony on the summer solstice on Thursday.
The burial was arranged after a change in the law over the storage of archaeological remains, which meant Highworth Historical Society could no longer keep the skeletons.
Residents, including a group of Pagans, joined members of the society for the service, which was led by Bryan Elkington, an elder of the United Reformed Church, although it was not a religious service.
The four sets of remains were put in three wicker casks, each completed for burial with mead, honey and bread as sustenance for their journey, and a copper coin, along with leaves from the seven sacred Druidic herbs.
History society secretary Jo Clark said the service had been carried out with "human dignity".
Mrs Clark said: "I feel it's gone very well, and I was surprised at the turn-out.
"It just goes to show the interest in Highworth and its past, and the interest that local Highworthians do have. They have been wonderful."
The caskets were brought to Highworth Cemetery by funeral directors AE Baker, and members of the society carried them to the grave where they were lowered in using hand-sewn hessian straps.
After the service, pagan worshippers scattered soil on to the caskets and spent quiet moments at the scene.
Local pagan Sally Williams said: "We are amazed this has happened.
"It was wonderful to do and I'm sure that there aren't many things like this that happen.
"It's completely unprecedented. Everybody did it all from scratch and nobody really knew where to start but I think it got put together extremely well.
"It's really nice that the people of Highworth have come here to see the reinterment of previous residents."
Emma Restall-Orr, from Honouring the Ancient Dead, said there can be a sense of fear that potential research materials can be lost when remains of this kind are reburied.
"There are many people who don't like the idea of the reburial of ancient human remains," she said. "It makes some people nervous that the way will be cleared for reburial on a wider scale.
"But we are saying we are here now and we must respect what we have now'.
"These bones need respect and to be placed back in peace in the earth and we know we are pretty sure that these remains have no scientific value."
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