SK26

3D Model

Skeleton 26 was also excavated in 2015. It was an unusual burial in that it comprised a disarticulated bundle of bones places within a small oval grave capped with a large slate stone. The skull is incomplete which makes a determination of sex and age problematic. In fact it has features indicative of both males and females; it has a large mastoid process and fairly prominent occipital protuberance suggestive of maleness. However the shape of the orbits and absence of a prominent supra-orbital ridge is suggestive of a female.

As at most sites in Devon, the soil type at Ipplepen is fairly acidic. This isn’t great for bone preservation as bones and other organic materials usually deteriorate more quickly than in less acidic soils. Whilst many of the excavated skeletons at Ipplepen are very fragile, we were very lucky to have the level of preservation we did in comparison to other Devon sites, where very little organic material remains at all.