SCIENTISTS and historians are appealing for funding to help discover if villagers in Addingham are descended from ancient skeltons unearthed near the parish church.

Experts at Bradford University are considering comparing DNA samples from today's Addingham residents with those of Anglo Saxons whose remains were found in a burial ground by archaeologists.

They hope it will allow them to trace relatives of the Anglo Saxons who may still live in the village.

Last year similar tests were carried out on Iron Age bodies in Somerset's Wookey Hole, proving that there were a number of descendants still living in the area.

However, Anthea Boylston, human osteoarchaeologist at Bradford University, said the Addingham project could not go ahead yet as there was no funding available.

She stressed that DNA tests on ancient bones were "highly experimental".

The Wakefield-based West Yorkshire Archaeology Service unearthed the 14 Addingham skeletons over a period of time following building work near St Peter's Church.

They dated from the seventh to the 10th century and included the body of a child and one with a spinal condition which may have indicated that the person suffered from tuberculosis.

Records show that Addingham was a significant settlement in Anglo Saxon times, and the village is believed to have given refuge to Archbishop Wulfhere, of York, who fled from the invading Danes in 867 AD.

Although St Peter's Church is medieval, it is believed the burial ground around it dates from much earlier.

Bones found there have been sent to Bradford University which carbon dated them to around 700 AD.

Vicar of Addingham, the Rev Andrew Tawn, said he had already had phone calls from people in the village offering to have their DNA tested.

"The idea is that it would be possible to trace the connection between the skeletons and people who still live here, but it's all hypothetical," he said.

"The most interesting thing from the church's point of view is that there were people worshiping here many, many years ago, and that's important."

Local historian Kate Mason said she could think of at least one Addingham family which may have lived in the village since the 13th century.

"My main interest is in how life has carried on here in different periods and to be able to trace back to the seventh century would be quite remarkable," she said.

Once all the tests have been carried out, the skeletons will be reburied in consecrated ground.

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