A HUMAN tragedy which has remained buried for nearly 1000 years has been uncovered on a building site in the East of Scotland.

A burial ground containing the skeletons of more than a dozen young children and babies has been unearthed by archaeologists preparing the site for council building work. Experts are puzzled by what could have caused so many children to die.

The burial ground has been discovered next to an established thirteenth-century graveyard in Dunbar, East Lothian.

There are 25 skeletons and experts say the high number of children suggests some sort of tragedy hit the small community.

Because so little is known about the people living in the area at that time they are at a loss to explain what might have happened.

Scientists from Edinburgh will start examining the remains in the next couple of weeks.

The skeletons are believed to be from the tenth century. The remains are being taken to Edinburgh, where scientists will begin tests for any evidence of disease or injury.

It is not thought the deaths were caused by war or a plague, although famine has not been ruled out. It is also possible illness swept through a small settlement, wiping out the more vulnerable members.

Archaeologist Colm Moloney, who discovered the first skeleton, said there obviously had been enough survivors to ensure a proper burial for the victims.

He said: ''Great care was taken with the burials, with clasps found to hold shrouds together and heads laid between stones. They are obviously Christian people because they were buried east to west with their arms crossed.''

The skeletons were uncovered as workmen began work to lay foundations for public toilets in Dunbar High Street.

Because the site is so near the thirteenth-century graveyard, discovered five years ago, archaeologists were brought in to ensure the council was not building over any historic finds. Even they were surprised by the size of the site.

Mr Moloney said: ''We can tell a great deal about the people that lived here from the contents of their graves, but the size and condition of the bones will reveal any illness and clues about the settlement's diet.''