An Anglo-Saxon cemetery containing the remains of more than 140 people buried with some of their favorite items, including jewelry, knives and even a personal care kit, has been discovered by archaeologists working on the HS2 route.
The site, near Wendover, Buckinghamshire, contains “a stunning set of discoveries,” said historian Dan Snow. “Traditionally, this period is rejected as a dark age. But archeology has filled the gaps. “
The skeleton was found with an iron spearhead driven into the thoracic vertebra. Photo: HS2 / PA
“The results will tell us more about how our predecessors lived, fought and eventually died,” he said. “This is one of the best and most revealing post-Stream sites in the country.”
A skeleton, a man between the ages of 17 and 24 at the time of his death, was found with a sharp iron object driven into his vertebrae, suggesting he had suffered a violent death. Osteologists who have examined the skeleton believe that the weapon was driven into his body in front before being driven into his spine.
A bright blue spot on his collarbone came from a brooch used to hold clothes. Many of the site’s skeletons were found with two clavicle brooches holding cloaks or peplos – long outer garments worn by women – in place.
A female skeleton was found with a huge array of goods, including a full ornate pale green glass bowl believed to have been made in the early fifth century, indicating that she was a man of high status. Other items found with her remains include rings, brooches, iron belts and ivory items.
The site contains 138 graves with 141 inhumation burials and five cremation burials, making it one of the largest Anglo-Saxon cemeteries discovered in Britain. More than 2,000 beads were found, along with 89 brooches, 40 buckles, 51 knives, 15 spearheads and seven shield bosses.
Dr Rachel Wood, a leading archaeologist at Fusion JV, the field company, said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime discovery”.
Dan Snow with a spearhead discovered during excavations at HS2. Photo: HS2 / PA
“It is rare to find Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, especially with so many people – men, women and children – and an incredible range of grave goods. Almost all the people were buried with fantastically decorated brooches, but we also found glass and amber beads, swords, shields, spearheads, fantastically decorated clay jewelry – quite unique items.
“The fifth and sixth centuries are not the ones we know a lot about, and all the objects we have discovered will be able to tell us a lot about these people. That gives us a great picture of society. “
Most of the individuals seem to have been relatively wealthy, able to import some of the items from all over Europe. Two glass conical glasses, which were found intact, would be used to drink wine brought to England from abroad. The glasses are similar to those made in northern France, although some were made in England at the time.
The findings include personal care products, such as earwax removers, toothpicks, tweezers, combs and a test tube that may contain cosmetics such as eyeliner.
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A team of 30 archaeologists worked on the site for almost a year, completing fieldwork in 2021. In addition to the Anglo-Saxon cemetery, evidence of the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman activity has been found.
The HS2 route turned out to be rich in archeological finds. More than 1,000 archaeologists have worked on 60 separate sites between London and the West Midlands over the past three years.
The discovered objects will be preserved and many of them will eventually be exhibited in museums. But the larger finds will be bulldozed to pave the way for the new railway.
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