The remains of four or five people, children and adults, were uncovered by builders as they carried out groundworks in a High Street St Martin's garden, in Stamford, on Friday (July 11).

Police were immediately alerted, but investigations quickly revealed that the bones were about 800 years old.

Now archaeologists say the find may play a key role in understanding how the town developed.

Archaeologist with the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire Joanna Hambly believes the bones are from the burial ground of the Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr, which was founded between 1173 and 1180, and closed in the 1500s.

Miss Hambly said historical records state the exact position of some early buildings in association with the hospital, but the location of the burial ground was not clear until now.

"At the moment, all of our records say possible and probable – this gives us evidence that it was here.

"I have recovered a couple of pieces of pottery from among the burials, which date between 1000 to the middle of the 1100s – a nice early date that fits in."

Miss Hambly said this was a small burial ground, with bodies being packed in underneath the ones which were disturbed.

Bettina Bryan, of Tinwell Road, Stamford, is project managing the building work for the homeowners.

She said that as builders dug foundations for a sunken terrace, they initially found small pieces of bone among bits of stone on Thursday.

But work came to an immediate stop when the workers uncovered a number of human skulls.

She said: "It was amazing but a little unnerving.

"It is an amazing find and was preserved for 800 years. It is a part of history."

Police and scenes of crime officers attended on Friday, but called in Miss Hambly when it was established that an historical site had been uncovered.

External link:Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire - www.lincsheritage.org