Medieval remains of decapitated girl to get burial

he funeral of a teenage girl will finally be held this month 700 years after her decapitated body was buried in unconsecrated ground outside an English church in a gruesome medieval ritual.

A horse-drawn carriage will carry her remains through the village where archaeologists two years ago discovered the body with the head removed and placed by her side.

Experts believe that she may have been executed or committed suicide and then decapitated after she died, said the Rev. Andy Harding, the vicar of Hoo St. Werburgh parish church who will conduct the service. The body was buried close to the church, parts of which are more than 1,000 years old.

Harding said the ritual was sometimes done during medieval times to deny Christians eternal life. "There was a belief the spirit was housed in the head," he said. "That's condemning them really ... which I think is brutal and awful."

Harding said local businesses will provide a coffin, headstone and the carriage to take the remains through the village to the church, about 30 miles southeast of London.

"She will be back with me in the next couple of days," he said. "We've got a lot to make up for."

The funeral is scheduled for March 14. source>>>

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