Ancient human remains found during a home renovation turned a Kent couple’s project into a historical investigation. Ross Sledger, 49, was surprised when a builder discovered bones while working on a kitchen addition in the spring of 2019. Initially believing they belonged to an animal, Sledger soon learned otherwise.
In August, the remains were re-interred at a church near Sledger’s home in Wye, Kent. Sledger recounted his initial disbelief, which soon became a reality when specialists confirmed the bones dated back to Anglo-Saxon times, around 1,000 years ago. This sparked a police investigation, as officers sifted through the backyard leading to additional discoveries.
The police presence caused some disruption, with Sledger noting, “They thought it was a crime scene, and we had an officer overnight, disturbing both the neighbors and my sleep.” However, specialists soon confirmed the remains were ancient, not linked to any modern crimes.
During the renovation, Sledger found more bone fragments, including knuckles and fingers, causing anxiety about potential construction delays. He shared, “I was worried this could take months, but fortunately, it was resolved by the weekend.” After the investigation ended, the bones were given to a historical society before their final burial.
Attention to detail was necessary in arranging their final resting place, which involved navigating some bureaucratic steps. At the ceremony in August, the vicar selected “Jerusalem” as the hymn, providing a meaningful farewell. Interestingly, Sledger’s discovery is not unique in the UK. Another couple recently unearthed a trove of 70 historic English coins in their garden, later auctioned for over £380,000.