Human burials found underneath car park in Abingdon

The discovery was made during preliminary work to improve Cattlemarket car park.

The team of archaeologists from Thames Valley Archaeological Services, led by ADAS, an agricultural and environmental consultancy firm, were called in by Vale of White Horse District Council to conduct an archaeological survey.

The site is located in an area of significant archaeological interest and is near Abbey Church.

An archaeological trench at Cattlemarket car park (Image: ADAS) Previous archaeological work in the area has uncovered medieval burials and evidence of occupation dating back to the Iron Age.

The six trenches dug by the archaeologists revealed layers of archaeological deposits from the Medieval and Roman periods, identified by pottery found in these layers.

The human burials discovered are believed to be linked to other burials previously recorded in the surrounding area.

The structural remains of a stone wall were also identified at the site, with further work being carried out to establish the date of the wall.

It is thought to correspond with the location of the former bell tower recorded in the area.

James McNicoll-Norbury from ADAS said: "The findings are considered to be of high archaeological significance in association with Abbey Church, immediately south of the site, and the history of Abingdon.

An archaeological trench at Cattlemarket car park (Image: ADAS) "The burials and the walls will be preserved, due to their significance, as part of future development plans for the car park."

Vale of White Horse District Council, with funding from Thames Water, is planning a number of improvements to the car park.

These include improving the layout, resurfacing to remove potholes, and adding lighting to make the car park safer for all users.

A rain garden is also being installed to help manage rainwater and prevent the drains from being overwhelmed during heavy rain.

The archaeological finds mean the timetable for the improvement works will need to be adjusted, but it is hoped all work will be completed by the end of March 2025.

In the meantime, the council has agreed to temporarily fill the trenches in the northern end of the car park and reopen it for visitors to use during the festive period in the run-up to Christmas.

Councillor Mark Coleman, Vale of White Horse District Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for environmental services and waste, said: "It’s exciting to discover more about the fascinating history of Abingdon and the Abbey.

"I’m pleased we will be able to preserve the cemetery site and want to praise our officers for being able to open the car park in the run-up to Christmas."