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Bone fragment 'could be King Alfred or son Edward' Bone fragment 'could be King Alfred or son Edward'
(35 minutes later)
A fragment of bone unearthed in 1999 could be the remains of King Alfred the Great or his son, it has been revealed. A fragment of pelvis bone unearthed in Winchester in 1999 may belong to King Alfred the Great or his son Edward the Elder, academics have said.
Experts testing bones exhumed from an unmarked grave at St Bartholomew's Church in Winchester said they were not those of the monarch. It was found at a previous dig at Hyde Abbey and has been dated to 895-1017 - the era the king died.
But a fragment found at a previous dig at Hyde Abbey dated to the late 800s or early 900s - the era the king died. Experts were originally testing remains exhumed last year from an unmarked grave at St Bartholomew's Church, where it was thought he was buried.
The piece of pelvis bone was among animal remains that had been stored at Winchester's City Museum. But they were found to be from the 1300s, not 899, when the king died.
The fragment of pelvis had been among animal remains stored at Winchester's City Museum and were tested by academics at Winchester University after their study into the exhumed remains failed.
The university and the community group behind the search, Hyde900, are calling for further excavations at Hyde Abbey Gardens in the hunt for more remains.
Carbon dating
Experts said the bone, recovered from the site of the abbey, came from a man who was about 40 years old at the time of his death, leading them to believe it could be either Alfred or his son Edward.Experts said the bone, recovered from the site of the abbey, came from a man who was about 40 years old at the time of his death, leading them to believe it could be either Alfred or his son Edward.
Dr Katie Tucker, who has been examining the bones, said: "These are the bones that were found closest to the site of the high altar.Dr Katie Tucker, who has been examining the bones, said: "These are the bones that were found closest to the site of the high altar.
"As far as we know, from the chronicles and the records, the only individuals close to the site of the high altar who are the right age when they died and the right date when they died would either be Alfred or Edward.""As far as we know, from the chronicles and the records, the only individuals close to the site of the high altar who are the right age when they died and the right date when they died would either be Alfred or Edward."
The remains at St Bartholomew's Church were exhumed last year amid security fears after publicity surrounding the discovery of Richard III's remains.
But carbon dating showed they were from the wrong era.