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On Closer Inspection...
All material that is recovered during archaeological work at Nosterfield is analysed by specialists. The human remains from Nosterfield are currently being analysed by an osteologist. The cremated bone from the Bronze Age burials was in poor condition but it was possible to age two of the individuals. One was a child between 2 and 6 years, the other was an adolescent or young adult aged between 16 and 25 years.
Conservator Karen Barker excavating a Bronze Age cremation from Nosterfield
Uncremated burials have also been excavated recently. In one burial the long bones were found laid out side by side and the skull had been laid on top. This suggests that the bones were buried when they were already skeletonised. The bones may have been buried and then unearthed for reburial or they may have been exposed to the elements prior to burial in a pit.
The cremation urns were also in a very poor condition and are being treated by a conservator. Bronze Age pottery is often very poorly fired making it prone to decay. Karen Barker is consolidating the pottery carefully as the cremated bone is removed from the urn.
