FAQs

It is very difficult to confirm with absolute certainty the identity of individuals. However, findings from the research – an individual’s age, sex, their radiocarbon dates and historical records – help us to draw theories about who they may be and the lives they led. The results of the DNA testing may help us to understand this further.

We anticipate there will be several academic journal articles published in the next 12-24 months. Please follow the Cathedral online to stay up-to-date on further developments and news about publication.

No, historical records suggest Alfred the Great was interred at New Minster and later transferred to Hyde Abbey in Winchester. However, it is possible that relatives within the Anglo-Saxon House of Wessex are among those within the mortuary chests.

The arrangement of individuals into chests was based first on their radiocarbon dates. Individuals dating from a similar period in time will be interred together in the same chest.

Some individuals have been held back and will be reinterred in the new chests once completed. These individuals have been retained on the basis of their scientific interest. Further information will be shared in due course in line with further communications about the new chests.

Further details on the commissioning process will follow in due course.

We are grateful for your offer, but we are not looking to test modern DNA samples as part of this Project.

A highly specialised team of osteoarchaeologists and experts have worked on the mortuary chests project. Please direct all media enquiries to Lucy Rouse on lucy.rouse@winchester-cathedral.org.uk or 07974 238386.