Archaeologists working on the HS2 corridor have unearthed an Anglo-Saxon burial site containing the remains of more than 140 people together with some of their most prized possessions, including jewelry, knives, and even a personal grooming kit.
More than 140 skeletons were discovered at a site in Buckinghamshire, along with a wealth of personal things.
The site near Wendover, Buckinghamshire, yielded “astonishing discoveries,” according to the historian Dan Snow. This period has traditionally been referred to as the Dark Ages. Archaeology, however, has filled in the gaps.”
He stated that the discoveries would “teach us more about how our ancestors lived, battled, and eventually perished.” It is one of the most informative and significant post-Roman sites in the country.
One skeleton, a male between 17 and 24 years old at the time of death, was discovered with a sharp iron item embedded in his vertebrae, indicating he died violently. According to osteologists who inspected the skeleton, a weapon entered the victim’s body from the front before burying itself in his spine.
The bright blue stain on his collarbone was caused by a garment-securing brooch. Several of the site’s skeletons were discovered with two collarbone brooches securing cloaks or peplos, which were long outer gowns worn by women, to the shoulders.
One female skeleton was discovered with a large assortment of items, including a complete elaborate pale green glass bowl from the turn of the fifth century, indicating that she was a person of high status. Her remains were also accompanied by rings, brooches, iron belt fittings, and ivory artifacts.
It was one of the largest Anglo-Saxon burial cemeteries ever discovered in Britain, with 138 tombs, 141 inhumation burials, and five cremation burials. More than 2,000 beads, 89 brooches, 40 buckles, 51 knives, 15 spearheads, and seven shield bosses were uncovered.
Dr. Rachel Wood, the chief archaeologist at Fusion JV, the company that conducted the fieldwork, described the discovery as “once in a lifetime.”
“It is uncommon to find Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, especially with so many persons — men, women, and children – and such a remarkable variety of burial goods. Almost all of the deceased were buried with exquisitely ornamented brooches, but we’ve also discovered glass and amber beads, swords, shield bosses, spearheads, and exquisitely ornamented clay jewelry — an abundance of unique items.
“We do not know much about the fifth and sixth centuries, but the artifacts we’ve unearthed will tell us a great deal about these individuals. It provides an excellent glimpse of society.”
The majority of the people appear to have been relatively wealthy, as they were able to import commodities from around Europe. Two undamaged glass cone beakers that were discovered would have been used to consume imported wine into England. The beakers are comparable to those produced in northern France, however, some were also produced in England at the time.
The goods discovered include earwax removers, toothpicks, tweezers, and combs, as well as a tube that may have contained eyeliner.
