THE remains of 92 people from hundreds of years ago have been discovered near the Kassam Stadium.

Archaeologists excavated the site ahead of planned construction of a new hotel next to the Priory pub.

The pub is all that remains above ground of what used to be Littlemore Priory, a nunnery founded in 1110.

The excavation’s director Paul Murray, of John Moore Heritage Services, who worked with Oxford Archaeology, said: “The burials of men, women and children we excavated from within and around the church of the nunnery are of particular interest because they represent a wide range of people.

“We knew the church was there and we knew we would find something, but the number of burials was a real surprise.

“The number and range of burials is the most useful and gives us the chance to look at the diet of nuns, which hasn’t really been studied before.”

In the 12th century people started to pay to be buried in or near a church, which Mr Murray said accounted for the range of ages and sexes buried near the nunnery.

The nunnery was closed in the 1500s by Cardinal Wolsey, with the excuse that the nuns had been criticised for “lewd and immoral behaviour”.

Finds of note included a stillborn baby in a well-made casket which the archaeologists said suggested a very well-off family and an intriguing prone burial – somebody face down. Mr Murray said: “Prone burials are normally associated with witches or those who have sinned and take place away from the church.

“This woman is buried in the church which suggests she was an important person who had sinned – we can’t know for sure but it could tie in with the story of the behaviour of the nuns.”

The remains will now be used to help study medieval women. Charlotte Scull of Reading University, who will be carrying out the study, said: “We hope to undertake isotopic analysis of the bones which should tell us more about the origin and diet of the individuals buried at Minchery Farm.”

History

  •  The Priory is over 600 years old – it was built in the mid-1400s as a rebuild of part of Littlemore Priory, a nunnery founded in 1110.
  • An ecclesiastical inspection in the early 15th century found that the nuns’ accommodation was in a bad state and recommended it was rebuilt.
  •  The pub originally housed the nunnery's chapter house and dormitory.
  •  It was converted into a farmhouse in 1600, about 70 years after the nunnery was closed by Cardinal Wolsey after the nuns had been criticised for "lewd and immoral behaviour".
  •  The building survives to its full height with original stone window surrounds and doorway. 
  •  The roof structure is wooden and very vulnerable.
  • The Grade II-listed venue has been empty since June 2013, when its landlord claimed he was told to leave over mounting debts.