Ancient Human Remains Found During Home Renovation

A couple’s home renovation turned into a historical investigation when ancient human remains were discovered. Ross Sledger, 49, got an unexpected surprise in 2019 when a builder working on his kitchen discovered bones at his home in Wye, Kent, southeastern England.

The bones were finally reburied this August at a nearby church. Initially, Sledger thought the bones belonged to an animal. He shared, “[The builder] said, ‘I’ve found some bones,’ and I said, ‘Great,’ thinking it was farming or pets.”

The bones were later identified as Anglo-Saxon, dating back around 1,000 years. They caused a stir, leading to a police investigation. About 10 officers inspected Sledger’s backyard, unearthing more remains from a second body. The discoveries included a femur, two skulls, ribs, pelvis parts, and fragments of a humerus and fingers.

“They thought it was a crime scene,” Sledger explained. “They had an officer on duty overnight causing the neighbor’s floodlights to go off and my dog to bark, so I didn’t get much sleep that night.” About 48 hours later, specialists confirmed the remains were not linked to a modern crime.

Sledger later found more bones while installing artificial grass, increasing his renovation stress. He worried about delays but the situation resolved by the weekend. After police concluded their investigation, the remains were transferred to a historical society and then to a local vicar for reburial.

The re-interment ceremony in August featured the hymn “Jerusalem.” Sledger encountered some bureaucratic hurdles, saying, “I think it was a bit more red tape than anything else.”

Sledger’s yard isn’t the only site in the UK with unexpected historical finds. Another couple in Hampshire found and sold a hoard of 70 historic coins near their flower bed, earning over £380,000 at auction in 2025.