'Black Death' skeletons unearthed in Peterborough

Developers building houses in Peterborough have unearthed a fascinating glimpse of the city's past.

They've discovered a huge burial ground in Midland Road containing the skeletons of at least 70 people. It's thought the remains could be victims of the Black Death.

For centuries they lay undisturbed while above them life went on for successive generations of Peterboreans

Now the skeletons laid to rest in this ancient burial ground have been unearthed giving us the chance to learn more about our medieval ancestors.

The bones were found during an archaeological dig at this site where 90 new homes are being built. It's the biggest find of its type in the city.

The bodies had been interred west to east in accordance with Christian burial practices.

It's not yet clear how long ago they lived or how they died although there's speculations they may have been victims of the Black Death which killed a third of the city's population in 1348.

The find hasn't delayed the building project.