Lincoln UTC dig finds human remains and Virgin sculpture

The sculpture is thought to be from the 15th Century and was discovered behind a stone wall

Human remains and a medieval stone sculpture have been found during an archaeological dig in Lincoln.

The discoveries, many dating back to the Roman period, were made on the site where the new Lincoln University Technical College (UTC) is being built.

The remains were found in a well while the headless sculpture, depicting the Virgin Mary carrying the body of Christ, was found behind a stone wall.

Excavation director Gavin Glover said the remains had been buried on site.

The excavation is expected to last several months before work can begin on the £6.6m project to construct a new building for the college.

'Laid to rest'

The nearby Grade II-listed Greestone Building in Lindum Road will also be refurbished.

Mr Glover said the position of the bones suggested the body was placed in a routine burial.

The site is being excavated ahead of the construction of the college building

"We had all assumed that it was going to be someone that had fallen in or been thrown in the well," he said.

"The well had been backfilled so the body was only about half a metre from the top.

"The more we looked at it, it was almost certain that the body hadn't been thrown in, it had been laid to rest."

Nick Heath, East Midlands operations director for contractors Willmott Dixon, said: "Excavating the site's surroundings is a key part of this project's first stage.

"We are working to ensure we carefully remove anything of potential historical significance while also maintaining the project timeframe."

The UTC will be a specialist engineering and science college and is expected to be fully open by September 2015.