SCIENTISTS are hoping to force Addingham's oldest residents to reveal the village's secret history.

And villagers in search of a 1,300-year-old relative may find a missing family link - thanks to genetic research being carried out at Bradford University.

Excavations to extend the church hall at St Peter's Parish Church, Addingham, have uncovered 14 human skeletons thought to have been buried between the eighth and tenth centuries AD.

They were unearthed by archaeologists and have been sent to the University where scientists are hoping that DNA testing on the bones might reveal if there are any descendents left in the area.

The discovery follows an excavation on the church site in 1990 when 80 bodies were found in 55 graves.

The latest remains were found in an area left untouched during the earlier dig because of the proximity of a wall at the church hall.

Archaeologists have hailed both finds as being of national importance and say they could provide vital information about life in Anglo-Saxon times.

The university is carrying out the tests under a Home Office licence and once they are completed, the bodies will be reburied in consecrated ground.

Addingham is the earliest documented settlement in the Bradford district and records show that Archbishop Wulfhere fled to the village in the year 867 to escape Viking raids on York.

The church is medieval but the burial ground was previously in an oval shape, suggesting an earlier origin.

The dig, led by the West Yorkshire Archaeology Service (WYAS), suggests the 14 bodies had received Christian burials. They include the skeleton of a child and one with a spinal condition which may indicate the disease tuberculosis.

Stuart Wrathmell, operations manager of WYAS said: "It is an exciting find. We are looking forward to the results of the tests."

He said the remains had been painstakingly unearthed by a team of three people.

Anthea Boylston, human osteoarchaelogical expert, said they hoped to be able to tell the sex and age of the skeletons and the bones and teeth may indicate the history of disease at that time.

But she said that the DNA testing on ancient bones was highly experimental.

Ian Hepworth, treasurer of St Peter's, said: "We are obviously very excited. The archaeologists believe it is a Christian burial site going back over 1,300 years. It was very unusual in the dark ages to have such a strong community.

"We are looking forward to finding out more. But we would like to get funding if possible to see if any DNA tests could be taken.

"It would be an incredibly long shot but it would be good to try if would could get the funds."

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