Archaeologists have confirmed that an ancient burial site containing 35 graves could date back to the days when the area was occupied by Saxons then Vikings.

The exciting find comes seven years after the discovery of the grave of a Viking woman who tests showed had travelled to Doncaster from Norway as an immigrant, proving for the first time that Vikings had settled in the area.

The latest discovery, in the grounds of North Doncaster Technology College in Adwick le Street, is believed to be the only one of its kind in South Yorkshire and is attracting interests from archaeologists across the region.

The bones were unearthed during the construction of North Ridge Community School, a new special school. The grounds are now closed to the public and under 24 hour surveillance to allow investigative work to continue.

Experts have already dated the burial ground to between the 5th and 9th century AD. The area was at the time under the rule of the Saxons - as part of the ancient kingdom on Northumbria - and the Danelaw of the Vikings.

Project manager of The Archaeological Research and Consultancy at the University of Sheffield, Richard O'Neill, who is investigating the site along with South Yorkshire Archaeological Service, explained: "It is not every day that we find something as interesting as this. Builders often ask us 'have you found any old bones?' This time we can say 'yes!' We are delighted to have unearthed such an exciting archaeological discovery and are pleased to be working with all parties to prepare the way for this new school."

Andrew Lines, archaeologist with the SYAS, said: "The rarity would depend on the age. One of the problems we have got is we don't exactly know for sure how old the bodies are and when they were buried. There's no signs of any coffins at the moment but what we have got are stones around the head and this is something which has connections with West Lincolnshire."

"Looking at the village most of its orientation is on that alignment, for example the church in Adwick also runs south-west, north- east which is unusual. If this is the right period then it is the only one of its kind in South Yorkshire."

"There have been quite a number of burials found in the area, Adwick is quite a hotspot but there is a big black hole in South Yorkshire during this period so it has been a matter of time. There is Roman Ridge Road so there has been a settlement for the past couple of thousand years, and if this turns out to be the correct period it poses the big question of were they from the area or did they move from somewhere else?"

"So all this is going to be a very exciting find and is going to contribute an awful lot on the history of the area."

"Thirty-five burials is not up to the biggest old burials but it is fairly rare in local terms."

In the 5th Century Doncaster was located near a Roman fort which followed the River Don and was a pivotal point in the country when it provided a route from York to Lincoln.

Seven years ago, during work to lay a sewer, the grave of a Viking woman was found in Adwick le Street.

The discovery of the woman's remains and artefacts buried alongside her, including a bowl, knife, key and two brooches, was descibed by Peter Robinson, Keeper of Archaeology at Doncaster Museum, as an "absolutely stunning" find.

Previous Viking finds in the area, for example parts of axes, were evidence of mauraders passing through, whereas the discover of the woman in Adwick was taken as proof that the Vikings had settled in this area.

Peter told Museum24 in 2003: "The important thing for Doncaster is that there is very little previous evidence that places the Vikings here."

The treasure found alongside the woman is now on display at Doncaster Museum.

Educational packs are currently being prepared on the latest find for use in local schools.

The digs on the site are not expected to slow down building work on the
new school.