Excavations at the Baptist Chapel Burial Ground, Littlemore, Oxford

In October 2009 Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out the excavation of the cemetery at Littlemore Baptist Chapel, Oxford (NGR 5349 0273). A total of 31 graves dating to the latter half of the 19th century were excavated during the excavations. The remains of 30 individuals
survived, and the skeletal remains pointed towards a population suffering poor nutrition in childhood but longevity in adulthood. Census and memorial stone data also pointed to a lower-middle class artisan population. Neoplastic disease prevalence was notably high,
making the assemblage unique in this respect. The remains of 31 coffins were revealed, which dated from the late 1850s, sometime after the foundation of the chapel. Evidence for postmedieval quarrying were also recorded.