5 medieval burials were excavated in 2019 at Deichmann, Canterbury. The burials are thought to relate to the church of the Austin Friars which was originally located at the site during the medieval period. Earlier and contemporary medieval activity at the site comprised features associated with the construction and occupation of the friary (TR 15 NE 1989).
Grave 1 measured 1.14m in length, and 0.6m in width. The original grave was cut during a later period, the fill of which contained diarticulated human remains, suggested to have been those from the original grave which were disturbed and later reinserted into the grave. Grave 1 contained the remains of a probable male between 33-63yrs in age. This individual suffered from pelvic bone lesions associated with infectious disease - potentially osteomyelitis. Grave 1 also contained the remains of a individual of undetermined age and sex, suffering from mild osteoarthritis (visible in the humerus and vertebrae), alongside slight joint degeneration.
Grave 2 measured 1.8m in length and 0.6m in width. Human remains in situ in the form of a left humerus and partial scapula and clavicle were excavated but not exhumed.
Grave 3 measured 1.3m in length and 0.6m in width. Disarticulated human remains were recovered from the grave backfill, however, these may have originated from grave 2, rather than grave 3. Human remains retrieved from the burial comprised the remains of a probable male, a probable female, and a juvenile. The ?male was aged 45-50yrs, the ?female was aged 50-60+yrs, and the juvenile was aged 8-12yrs. The male individual was associated with pelvic bone lesions indicative of Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Grave 4 measured over 0.57m in length by 0.36m in width. No in situ or disarticulated human remains were excavated from the grave. The fill included mortar, ceramic building material, shell, and charcoal.
Grave 5 measured over 1.03m in length by 0.26m in width. No human remains were excavated from the grave, however, a copper alloy buckle dating between 1150-1450 AD was recovered from the backfill. Other finds from the fill included mortar, ceramic building material, shell, and charcoal.
Material recovered from areas outside of the graves, but likely originally derived from the graves, comprised the remains of a probable male aged over 45yrs, an undetermined individual over 50+yrs (suffering from vertebra with Schmorl's Nodes), and a probable female aged over 50+yrs. The last two of these individuals are thought to represent remains associated with individuals from the graves who have already been listed above.
The minimum number of individuals was determined to be 6; analysis of the remains determined that at least 5 of the individuals were adults and 1 was a sub-adult. Analysis of the sample also revealed that 3 of the individuals were male/probably male, 1 was female or probably female, and 2 (including the sub-adult) were of undetermined sex.
Finds associated with the human remains and burials included animal remains, medieval peg-tile, and 13th-14th century pottery, alongside the copper alloy buckle from grave 5.
The burials and human remains are thought to date from the 3rd phase of occupation at the site dating from the late 14th century to the early 16th century. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2019, Deichmann, 2-4 Whitefriars Street, Canterbury, Kent, Archaeological map and sample, Post excavation report (Unpublished document). SKE53162.