{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreibogox4juum7kxdkbudq4zuxejsn4wgyokkcy2eiwob4ym6iatagq",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgtxgqwlzyo2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreiagjelnqz5qirxx4lk7ed4gaywsulgkdhlounlprrq35vvsxonj34"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 27473
  },
  "path": "/science/archaeology-breakthrough-skull-markings-canterbury",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-12T07:28:21.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Mystery of 2,000-year-old coin used to pay Leeds bus fare may finally be solved",
    "Ancient Egyptians used 3,000-year-old 'Tipp-Ex' mix to fix mistakes on papyrus artwork",
    "Swimmer discovers Crusader's sword lodged in seabed off Holy Land in extraordinary chance find",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nArchaeologists have stumbled across a slab with sinister skull markings and a mysterious vault below a historic British high street.\n\nWorkers in Canterbury, Kent, found the secret brick-lined chamber while carrying out a renovation project near a closed-down department store.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nResearchers from the Canterbury Archaeological Trust were then called in to investigate the St Mary Bredman Square breakthrough.\n\nWhile only a hunch, experts suspect the vault is the resting place of Reverend John Duncombe, a Vicar at St Mary Bredman church, which formerly stood at the site.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nA late 18th-century description of monuments in the church describes a grave slab dedicated to Rev Duncombe.\n\nThe vicar was also a poet and wrote about archaeology.\n\nThe Canterbury Archaeological Trust said: \"Whilst it’s difficult to say for certain, the position of the vault in the important eastern end of the church and the style and date of its construction lining up with the Reverend’s death in January 1786 are encouraging.\"\n\nThe sinister grave slab, however, is not believed to be linked to the vicar.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThis design, with a carved skull and laurel wreath, is a \"memento mori\" design, which often includes macabre imagery including skeletons, wings, flowers, and sand timers, the Canterbury Archaeological Society said.\n\nFourteen vaults have been examined across three church sites in the city.\n\nThe square, which currently serves as a war memorial, is undergoing a renovation which will see trees planted and benches erected to provide respite from the high street.\n\nA mural of a church window will also be painted to display the area's history.\n\n### LATEST ARCHAEOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Mystery of 2,000-year-old coin used to pay Leeds bus fare may finally be solved\n  * Ancient Egyptians used 3,000-year-old 'Tipp-Ex' mix to fix mistakes on papyrus artwork\n  * Swimmer discovers Crusader's sword lodged in seabed off Holy Land in extraordinary chance find\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nJess Twyman, one of the archaeologists at the trust, told the BBC she was fascinated by the breakthrough.\n\nShe said: \"The most important thing to me is looking at people's lives, how they lived in the past.\"\n\nThe archaeologist, who has worked for the trust for 25 years, said others on her team were not as interested in the mysterious vault and grave slab.\n\nHer colleague, Mark Houliston, said Canterbury had about 25 parish churches within city walls, which are now revealing their history.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Canterbury Archaeological Trust added that renovation plans \"will include the repositioning of grave markers so that these memorials are easier to view and appreciate\".\n\n\"The utmost care will be taken to ensure that the memorials are treated with the respect they deserve,\" it added.\n\nThe Canterbury Archaeological Trust was founded in 1975 to carry out archaeological digs throughout Canterbury and Kent.\n\nLast month, the organisation described the finding as \"the closest thing to an Indiana Jones adventure\" you could get.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "Archaeologists stumble across sinister skull markings and mysterious vault below historic British street"
}