Human Osteological Services - human osteology, zooarchaeology, forensic consultancy, forensic archaeology, facial reconstruction

Re-analysis of the human bone and faunal assemblage from an Iron Age Hillfort at Bredon Hill is now underway thanks to a BABAO grant awarded to osteologists Gaynor Western and Tania Kausmally in conjunction with Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Services. The project to reassess the archaeological site, led by Derek Hurst of WHEAS, could lead to the discovery of new clues about the sudden abandonment of the site marked with a deposit of human remains. Already, an initial assessment of the pottery indicates that the site is earlier than previously thought, with pottery from the final phase of the site dating to around the Middle Iron Age.

Analysis of the human remains, using the latest methodologies in forensic practice, will aim to shed light on the final years of the site's occupation and to determine the events that led to the deposit of co-mingled human remains in the main entrance way to the site. This will include assessing the age and sex of the individuals as well as identifying any peri-mortem trauma that could have led to their deaths.

Kemerton Camp was excavated in the 1930's by Thalassa Cruso Hencken and her excavation work has provided the only tangible evidence of the camp's history for archaeologists to date. Although theoretical re-interpretations of the site have been put forward, this is the first time since the original excavations that the material evidence will be reassessed using modern techniques. The grant provided by BABAO has given us a very exciting opportunity to re-examine a rare assemblage of human skeletons from this period. The data will provide a unique insight into life and death at the camp as well as form a basis for further research.