Intrigue surrounds the discovery of around 40 bodies in shallow graves at the site of a planned care home.

Archaeologists made the grisly find on a building site and some of the skeletons had their hands tied behind their backs.

Historians believe the remains could be over 1,000 years old and have hailed it ‘one of the biggest finds of its kind.’

However, locals have accused developers of not sharing information about the skeletons, which were unearthed two months ago in Buckingham.

Aylesbury Vale district councillor, Robin Stuchbury, said: ‘This find is of great historical significance.

‘I am aware that the bodies were found in December.

‘There were more than 40 of them and they had their hands bound behind their backs, which infers they were prisoners of some kind.

‘They could date from Anglo Saxon times, when there were killings in Buckingham, or from during the Civil War, which also saw casualties.

‘Or they could be criminals who were hanged on the gallows in the town.

‘The fact is, we have a right to know. This is part of our history.’

The bodies were discovered at West End Farm, Brackley Road, Buckingham, by archaeologists.

They were monitoring excavations as part of a planning requirement imposed on Brio Retirement Living Holdings, who are hoping to build 72 self-contained flats on the site.

The skeletons have since been removed and are undergoing tests to determine their age, sex and cause of death.

Mr Stuchbury speculated they could be Danish Vikings killed around the time of the 1002 St Brice’s Day massacre, close to modern-day Buckingham on the border of the kingdoms of Wessex and Danelaw.

The dead could also be executed prisoners or fighters from the English Civil War in the middle of the 17th century.

He added: ‘What is evident is that it’s not a usual occurrence to find so many people in one place.

‘And the fact they had their hands tied behind their backs meant they did not go willingly.

‘This could be a site of huge national importance.’

The development site is now a series of holes in the ground where the ‘unusual graves’ were excavated.

But the authorities have not been told whether there were any artefacts buried with them which could help solve the mystery.

Buckingham Town Council told Metro.co.uk that they were ‘concerned about the lack of a published archaeological report.’

And Bucks County Council and their Archaeological Service (BCAS) are yet to see any post-excavation analysis.

Metro.co.uk has approached the team doing the tests as well as the developers – Places for People – who have refused to comment since news emerged of the find.

The Anglo-Saxon period lasted from 410 to 1066.

The St Brice’s day massacre saw the mass murder of all Danes in the United Kingdom on the orders of King Æthelred the Unready after a decade of repeated Viking raids.

Bill Chapple, the Conservative councillor responsible for planning at Buckinghamshire County Council, said: ‘We are awaiting the results of the post-excavation analysis to establish how old the burials are, and details such as the age and gender of those buried, their origins, health, illnesses and cause of death.

‘This analysis can take some months to undertake, and the results will be presented in a report from the archaeological specialist consultant once work is complete.

‘This is obviously a very important site for Buckingham, with a fascinating story.’

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