Fishermen near Faringdon have landed a gruesome catch -- a human skull.
The men were fishing near The Trout Inn, in Lechlade Road, on Thursday afternoon, when one of them caught the skull on his line.
Yesterday police divers searched the Thames for human remains and discovered a shin bone which will be sent for carbon-dating with the skull.
Pc Martin Armstrong said: "We understand there was an old Saxon settlement there, so the river may have washed through an ancient burial ground."
Police are not treating the find as suspicious. Kate Smith, a spokesman for the force, added: "The skull contained quite a lot of silt, so it has probably been in the water for some time."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article