![Archaeologists have made some incredible discoveries along the HS2 line in the past two years [PA/SWNS]](/resources/images/13447617.jpg?type=mds-article-962)
“Astounding” sculptures, a potential murder victim, an ancient church, and now a burial site full of decapitated skeletons – archaeologists digging up the HS2 route have uncovered marvels and terrors.
The latest discovery of up to 40 headless corpses in an enormous Roman burial site is just the latest in a catalogue of incredible Buckinghamshire finds.
See below for some more of the amazing discoveries that could otherwise have been lost to the past forever:
Possible murder victim – July 2020
During excavation work at Wellwick Farm near Wendover, the skeleton of an adult male buried face down in a ditch with hands bound together under his pelvis was discovered.
Experts believe the Iron Age man, who was discovered in July 2020, may have been the victim of a murder or execution.
READ MORE: HS2 archaeologists find skeleton of possible murder victim while digging
In a square enclosure on the site, archaeologists discovered a skeleton in a coffin that was lined with lead, with the outer coffin likely made of wood.
Archaeologists believe that the buried individual must have been someone of high status as they had the means to pay for such an expensive method of burial.
“Astounding” Roman sculptures – October 2021
Two complete busts of what appear to be a man and a woman were found at the old St Mary’s Church in Stoke Mandeville.
A hexagonal glass Roman jug was also uncovered with large pieces still intact despite being in the ground for what is thought to be more than 1,000 years.
READ MORE: ‘Astounding’ discovery of Roman sculptures at HS2 site in Bucks
A vessel on display in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is the only known comparable item.
Dr Rachel Wood, lead archaeologist for HS2 contractor Fusion JV, said: “They’re hugely significant because they’re really rare finds in the UK.
“To find one stone head or one set of shoulders would be really astonishing, but we have two complete heads and shoulders as well as a third head as well.
Anglo-Saxon church – September 2021
An Anglo-Saxon church was unearthed underneath a Norman church being excavated as part of the HS2 transport works.
Archaeologists at the site of the old St Mary’s Church discovered flint walls forming a square structure underneath Norman levels, enclosed by a circular boundary ditch and a small number of associated burials.
READ MORE: The 900-year-old church discovered underneath this Bucks village
The flint foundations are about 1m wide, which indicates it would have been a tall structure, although its footprint would have been small.
The foundations of the pre-Norman structure have reused Roman roof tiles in them and with evidence of a nearby Roman settlement, archaeologists say it is possible that the materials were reused from a previous structure away from this location.
Decapitated corpses – February 2022
Archaeologists uncovered up to 40 decapitated skeletons while excavating a Roman town.
They found the corpses among 425 burials in a 2,000-year-old cemetery in Fleet Marston, near Aylesbury.
READ MORE: Decapitated skeletons uncovered in ancient Roman town along HS2 line
Around ten per cent of the burials were decapitated - with the head placed between the legs or next to the feet.
Experts believe the headless skeletons could be criminals or outcasts, but decapitation was sometimes performed as a burial rite during the late Roman period.
Other evidence of a "bustling Roman town" was found, including 1,200 coins, spoons, gambling dice and brooches.
Iron Age coins – July 2021
A hoard of hundreds of rare Iron Age coins were discovered near Hillingdon.
Bearing the side profile of Greek god Apollo on one side and a charging bull on the other, their design is based on coins struck in the French city of Marseille more than 2,000 years ago.
READ MORE: Archaeologists discover hundreds of rare coins from Iron Age on HS2 route
Excavation teams made the discovery after a storm disturbed the ground where they were buried.
Historians believe they were used as an offering to the gods or to mark the boundary of a property, as bartering rather than currency was the main form of exchanging goods and services at the time.
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