Rat Island (Burrow Island), Portsmouth

3D Model

Storms of 2014 exposed human remains on Burrow Island (also known locally as Rat Island). Recovery work was followed in 2017 by the excavation of four skeletons in stacked coffins, two of which are visible here. Post-excavation analysis is underway to establish whether these individuals are French or American Prisoners of War, or prisoners from the prison hulks of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Wessex Archaeology Geomatics department helped in recording the human remains by carrying out photogrammetry of these two burials, which were excavated by Operation Nightingale in conjunction with Cranfield University, and funded by Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).