Human bones found beneath Norwich city-centre pavement by workmen fitting fibre-optic cable

Police have been called after the discovery of bones under a pavement in Norwich city centre.
Police have been called after the discovery of bones under a pavement in Norwich city centre. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Crime scene investigators are examining a collection of suspected human bones which were discovered under a city centre pavement.

Workmen who were digging to lay fibre optic cables near St Andrew’s Church near Bridewell Alley in Norwich alerted police at 8.59pm on Monday when they made the discovery.

A police cordon was put in place while investigators examined the scene.

The bones would be taken away and examined to determine how old they are, said police.

Police were called after workmen discovered what are thought to be human bones near Bridewell Alley in Norwich city centre. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Indi Williams, Student Union president of Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) was walking by when she saw police taking photographs of the find, and told ITV News Anglia: "I saw this happening, and got a bit curious so I started taking some photos.

"Then I came over and had a look. It's crazy, just the amount of bones in the ground, it's crazy."

Abi Harverson, also a student at NUA, said: "I've never seen a forensic team doing their work in real time, only ever on the TV.

"I love all the history of Norwich; this is the reason I am here."

Police investigators photograph the remains of what appears to be human bones near a church in Norwich city centre. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Student Anne Boston added: "As someone who is very interested in bones and things like that it is very cool to see something like this in person.

"When you think of how old the city is, people won't necessarily understand the age of the bones that have been found.

"Could it be excess from the church or something that was left and abandoned there hundreds of years ago?

"I think it will be very interesting to keep up with the case and see how they get to the bottom of this."

The Norfolk Archaeological Society may also be brought in to investigate the site further.


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