Human bones from at least six bodies unearthed at a building site are ancient, experts have confirmed.

The remains were discovered at the Days Yard site in Shaftesbury Road in Whitstable in January, by contractors who were carrying out groundwork for a new 17-home development on the site of a former vehicle workshop.

Contractors were using a digger to carry out drainage work when they struck a black, rubble sack-type bag buried two metres below ground.

Realising it contained bones, they contacted police, who hurried to the scene along with a forensics team. A second bag was then discovered.

One photograph shows bones from the first bag laid out at the scene, which sources said were thought to be from six separate bodies.

Forensics teams confirmed the bones are human, before sending them to specialists for dating.

But now, experts have confirmed the remains are from about the Middles Ages.

Police are no longer investigating the discovery, but it is thought the bones are likely to be passed on to archaeologists to carry out further analysis and establish more details about them.

Examining photos of the bones, Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s outreach and archives manager, Andrew Richardson, confirmed the remains were from multiple people.

Speaking at the time of the discovery, he said: "There are quite a few bones there - we think at least four individuals based on the number of long bones, perhaps more.

“These bones have been in the ground for some time. How long is hard to say. Based on their colour and fragmentary nature, I’d say that it is probable that these represent older burials disturbed and reburied, perhaps during building works.

"They may have originally been found on the Days Garage site, but they could just have easily have been disturbed elsewhere and reburied there.

“An osteologist could establish how many individuals are present and provide estimates of their ages at death, biological sex and whether any signs of illness or injury are present. All that takes time and money, of course.

“Canterbury Archaeological Trust would be willing to assist if needed.”

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