Promotion of Alfred Emperor's core test

The Church of England has allowed experts to conduct a test of the remains believed to belong to King Alfred the Great and his family.

Founded in 2010 to mark the 900th anniversary of Hyde Abbey, the King Alfred Dai burial site, the Hyde900 community project is expected to soon launch its important work, according to the BBC.

Alfred the Great Statue at Winchester - (Photo: wikimapia.org)

Rosemary Burns, Hyde900 executive committee member, said tests will include DNA testing, carbon isotope analysis, and isotopic and oxygen methods.

Alfred, the only king of England honored 'The Great', died in 899 at the age of 50, after 28 years of reign over the Western Saxons.

He was originally buried at Old Minster in Winchester and 200 years later, the king's body and his wife and children were transferred to Hyde Abbey, north of the city.

The remains will be examined, including five human skulls, unearthed at St. Bartholomew church at Winchester in March.

Experts believe that the remains of the royal family members may have been moved here after a prison was built on the site of Hyde Abbey.