EDO5399 - 8 Church Lane, Shaftesbury; salvage recording 1975

The Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group report the finding of a skull at 8 Church Lane, at a depth of 3ft below ground level of the house, which is 3ft below the level of the garden. They suggest that the skull is likely to have been in a grave, and say that 'the skull is said to be 200-300 years old' - the source of this information is not clear. However, a supplementary report (by a dentist, it seems) comments on points of interest in comparison with the modern population, notably lack of decay, gross wear indicating a coarse and less refined diet, heavy deposits of calculus and the profound impact of extensive gum disease. No attempt is make to sex the skull but it is suggested that the individual was around 50 years old. The circumstances of this find are not clear. The text of the report implies that the skull was found within the house, probably in the course of building work, but the very precise (ten figure) grid reference given falls in the garden.