A GRUESOME, but historically exciting discovery, has been made by workmen in East Yorkshire who unearthed four human skeletons.

Yorkshire Water engineers discovered the Roman skeletons when carrying out a £2.3 million water mains project in Stamford Bridge.

Archaeologists said the workmen had stumbled upon a Roman cemetery at the edge of a settlement dating from the first century AD.

They found three adult skeletons and a child's remains, as well as two cremation urns.

Archaeology students and Northern Archaeology Associates (NAA) also discovered flints indicating the site had been inhabited 5,000 years ago.

Yorkshire Water project manager Tim Dyke said: "It has been very exciting to see what was being uncovered each day.

"When remains of a Roman settlement and the first skeleton were discovered we were surprised. But then the skeletons just kept on coming.

He said: "It's quite something to stand on a site and actually see where our Roman ancestors lived and died."

John Buglass, of the NAA, said: "It's a very interesting site, helping us to understand the extent of Roman activity in the area, and a superb learning opportunity for students to put their theory into practice."

Updated: 11:01 Friday, September 19, 2003