Find Spot MPM1140 - Human Remains, Burrow Island, Portsmouth Harbour

Human remains were recovered from Burrow Island in 2014 after being exposed by winter storms. Further remains from burials at risk from erosion were recovered during a series of excavations in 2017, 2019 and 2020. It has been suggeted the individuals buried on the island may have been convicts or prisoners of war housed on prison hulks in Portsmouth Harbour during the late 18th or early 19th century.

Human remains were exposed by winter storms on Burrow Island (also known as Rat Island) in 2014. A rapid recovery/recording of the remains was carried out by archaeologists from the Ministry of Defence. This work was followed by a series of excavations in 2017, 2019 and 2020 to recover further burials at risk from erosion. The team undertaking the fieldwork included archaeologists from the Ministry of Defence, specialists from Cranfield Forensics Institute and military personnel on Operation Nightingale. The skeletal remains were analysed by specialists at Cranfield Forensics Institute.

It has been suggested that the individuals buried on the island may have been convicts or prisoners of war housed on prison hulks in Portsmouth Harbour during the late 18th or early 19th century.

[1-3]

2014 and 2017

In 2014 archaeologists from the Ministry of Defence and volunteers carried out a rapid recovery/recording of remains exposed during winter storms. Distinct grave cuts had been cut into what was consolidated beach shingle in 2014. The areas where the graves were located were covered with pieces of slate, brick rubble, clay pipe stems and clay soil of made ground. The burials were on an east-west alignment. Some retained iron nails from coffins. In addition to the in situ burials several stray human bones were found in the intertidal area around the island.

In 2017 the articulated skeletal remains of four adult males were recovered from the south east end of the Island. One grave had been cut into a 'cliff' face, the remaining three were situated on the foreshore below the cliff. Three of the graves contained the remains of elm coffins, some retaining iron nails. One coffin had traces of white material towards the upper edge where it would have joined the lid.

The burials were all orientated east-west and were extended and supine. Two of the burials had been 'stacked' one above the other. Evidence of autopsies were present on two of the skeletons, the skull of one of these individuals displaying clear evidence of a craniotomy. A facial reconstruction of this individual can be viewed in the project report.

No finds were recovered from the graves. A clay pipe bowl and stem were found above one grave but there was no evidence that they were associated with the burial.

The remains of a total of nine individuals were recovered during the work in 2014 and 2017. These individuals were identified as being male or possibly male, many of whom were young adults. Two of the skeletons had clay pipe notches shown as wear on their teeth. Evidence from isotopic analysis suggested that two of the men were of European continental origin.

No dating evidence was found in the graves and there were no objects to provide information about the origin of the individuals, although it was speculated that they may have been prisoners of war or convicts held on prison hulks in Portsmouth Harbour during the late 18th or early 19th century.

Two lead gaming pieces stamped with numbers and fragments of clay pipe were recovered from the inter-tidal mud flats, but these were not associated with the burials.

[1]

2019

The remains of a minimum of seven adults and one infant (two bones) were excavated. The burials were stacked higher up the 'cliff' than seen during previous investigations, and the graves had been cut into beach shingle and the laminated layers above in the cliff face immediately north of an ashlar wall. It was suggested that the wall may represent remains of Fort James. Earlier burials had been used as backfill for later burials. Three burials were orientated west-east. A partial set of remains behind a revetment wall were orientated north-south. As in previous years a number of unstratified remains were also recovered. The remains of coffins with iron and copper nails were present in the graves.

The locations of graves first examined during fieldwork in 2014 and 2017 were reinspected and further skeletal remains were found to have been exposed by erosion.

A clay pipe bowl with ship decoration made by Thomas Frost of Southampton was found above one of the burials. The pipe was thought to probably date to between c1800 and 1820.

[2]

2020

The remains of three complete adults and the partial remains of at least nine further individuals were excavated from a 'cliff' face to the immediate north of an ashlar wall (see 2019 above). Iron and copper coffin nails were again found in situ in the remains of elm coffins in the graves. The graves did not contain any objects. The individuals buried were all probable or possible males ranging between 25-55 years old (where it was possible to estimate sex and age).

The excavation in 2020 confirmed that the burial ground extended further north and is potentially far larger than was previously thought prior to 2019 with burials stacked within both the beach shingle and laminated layers above. Multiple stacked burials were recorded in a small location on the eastern side of island.

The western, northern and central sections of Burrow Island were not investigated during work in 2014, 2017, 2019 or 2020 as those areas were not at risk from erosion. It has been speculated that there could be further burials in these locations. The burials were also at a greater depth suggesting that it is more likely that higher numbers of burials may be present than have been recorded so far.

Radiocarbon dates for burials excavated in 2020 suggested they dated to between the mid-18th and mid-19th century. Isotope analysis for three of the burials was consistent with individuals having lived their early years in Southern England or the north European mainland such as France.

[3]


Human remains were found on Burrow Island by local fishermen in 2014. Following the discovery Police officers went to the island as it was reported that further human remains were still exposed. The conservation officer for Gosport also went to the island as it is documented that the island was used as a burial ground for prisoners of war.

According to local tradition, remains are often exposed along the neighbouring shoreline at Gosport during bad weather. These are thought to relate to an unorganised burial area dating to the post-medieval period associated with Gosport's naval heritage. It has also been suggested that prisoners of war may have been buried on the island.

Data supplied by Hampshire AHBR 2014. Ref: 66023

[4]

<1> Bennett, R, Daniell, C, Marquez-Grant, N, Osgood, R, 2017, A Wicked Noah's Ark: Exercise Magwitch, Rat Island 2017, Archaeological Excavation Report (Unpublished document). SPM666.

<2> Osgood, R, Daniell, C, Marquez-Grant, N, Mills, H, Bennett, R, 2019, Exercise Magwitch, Rat Island 2019: Interim Archaeological Excavation Report (Unpublished document). SPM668.

<3> Osgood, R, Daniell, C, Errickson, D, Holloway, M, Bennett, R, 2022, Exercise Magwitch, Rat Island 2020: Interim Archaeological Excavation Report (Unpublished document). SPM669.

<4> Hampshire County Council, 2014, Hampshire Archaeology and Historic Buildings Record (AHBR) (Index). SPM171.