The skeletal remains of eight children who died in the 17th-19th centuries were reburied in Luton’s Crawley Green Road Cemetery on Thursday.
The remains were discovered during the excavation of the new campus site for the University of Bedfordshire, where evidence of a 13th century castle was also uncovered.
During the dig, Albion Archeology found what was thought to be a small separate cemetery in St Mary’s Church, where the children, aged newborn to four years, were all buried in separate graves.
Albion Archeology project officer Wesley Keir said: “Though the majority of the archaeological remains uncovered during the excavation were associated with Fulk de Breaute’s castle, the post-medieval children’s graves were particularly interesting and unexpected.
“Lying outside the formal churchyard of the nearby St Mary’s Church, their location is somewhat puzzling, though it’s possible that the land had been leased to the church or that the location of the burials reflects social and or/religious marginality of the time.”
Due to the acidic nature of the soil and the frailty of infant bones, many of the skeletons were found to be only partially preserved.
Coffin nails, mineralised wood and copper alloy pins were found indicating the bodies were wrapped in shrouds or winding sheets and placed in wooden coffins which may also have been fabric covered.
Reverend Rob O’Neill, Priest in Charge of St John’s Farley Hill and All Saints Caddington, conducted the short service in the cemetery to rebury the remains, which have been stored by Neville Funeral Service Ltd since 2009.
University Chaplain Reverend Andrew Goodman said: “It’s a privilege to be able to honour these children. Even though we know little about their short lives, they were all someone’s sons and daughters, and are still loved by God.”