NHER 6844 (Find Spot record) - Undated human and animal bone finds

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Summary

A male human skull was found during canal building works in 1825, together with two skull fragments of Bos Primigenius, a very large extinct species of cow. The human skull had a pierced hole in it, leading to speculation at the time that the man had been gored to death by the cows.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet Not recorded
Civil Parish NORTH WALSHAM, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

No mapped location recorded.

Found in about 1825 during construction of locks on Dilham Canal at Partridges Mill.
Human skull of young man found about 4.3m (14 feet) from surface on gravel surface under peat with two specimens of Os frontis of Bos Primigenius (now in NCM). Skull had hole pierced in it 'conjectured by labourers that he had been gored to death by one of the oxen, and by others that he was killed in battle at the narrow passage of the river in this place'.

Skull submitted to Sir Everard Horne and to Mr De Ville, the celebrated phrenologist, who concurred in opinion that it was
'remarkable in its form and resembled the skull of a Red Indian. It was, there can be no doubt, the remains of one of the early inhabitants, who preceded the Celtic and British colonists. It is to be regretted that this relic is lost.'
T. Gunn in (S1).
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Miscellaneous. Walsham, North.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • <S1> Directory: Gunn, J.. 1883. White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Norfolk. 4th Edition.
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Undated)
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Undated)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jan 27 2011 3:02PM

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