One of the country’s leading criminologists has weighed-in on the stalemate surrounding the archaeological reporting on up to 80 skeletons found in Buckingham in 2019.
While starting building work on a new care home almost almost two years ago, developers uncovered the graves of 70-80 people, some buried face down with their hands tied behind their backs.
The skeletons were removed by archaeologists from the site at West End Farm, along with two medieval buckles that were also discovered – currently the only clue as to the age of the bodies.
David Wilson, Professor Emeritus of Criminology at Birmingham City University and the presenter of BBC’s David Wilson’s Crime Files, told Bucks Radio: “The 80 skeletons found with their hands tied behind their backs at West End Farm would appear to me to be evidence of a mass execution, showing that once again violence and cruelty runs deep in our culture.
“Violence is part of our DNA – part of our history. But to fully evaluate this apparent crime we need to know much more about what actually happened.”
Professor Wilson’s frustrations reference the fact that since April this year it’s become apparent that the developers no longer wish to build on the site, meaning that funding for the archaeological reporting has also ceased.
[PICTURE BELOW: Professor David Wilson]
The issue was raised at the Buckinghamshire Council cabinet meeting on the 13th September by councillor Robin Stuchbury, a lifelong resident of Buckingham who can trace his family to area as far back as 1086.
Speaking to Bucks Radio, Mr Stuchbury said: “I’m waiting for council officers to get back to me with costs for the archaeological work and how they propose to take these matters forward to provide the residents of Buckingham with some answers.
“This site could, for example, define what took place between Wessex and the Danelaw, and will doubtless be of international interest.”
The medieval period or the Middle Ages lasted approximately from the 5th century to the 15th century.
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