A Sussex landscape gardener got a shock when he unearthed human bones believed to be 200 years old.
Police were called to Village Barn, close to All Saints Church in Church Hill, Patcham, Brighton, after the bones were found.
Detectives ruled out crime and think the bones are at least 200 years old.
The grave was just outside consecrated land of the church on what was originally farmland.
Other human bones have been found close by in the garden since landscaper Keith Viney and his crew moved on to the site.
Mr Viney said he had informed the property's owners, who were away.
The barn, converted into private homes, was part of the largest tithe barn in Sussex.
Mr Viney speculated the graves may be that of paupers but Canon Neil Milmine, the church minister and rural dean, said: "This is news to me and I can't really tell you anything."
Police said the bones would be reburied when the site had been excavated further.
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