Anglo-Saxon Burial Site Discovery to Feature in History Hit Program

Archaeologists working on the HS2 British railway have uncovered a significant Anglo-Saxon burial site with 138 graves, which is featured in a new program for Dan Snow’s History Hit streaming service and podcast.

The team uncovered items dated to the 5th and 6th centuries, a period in which there are gaps in historical and archaeological records regarding the Anglo-Saxons. Among the artifacts unearthed are more than 2,000 beads, 89 brooches and 51 knives, as well as jewelry and even a toiletry kit consisting of ear wax removers, tweezers, combs and a cosmetic tube.

Additionally, archaeologists discovered 40 buckles, 15 spearheads and seven shield bosses. The brooches were often found in twos on skeletons’ collarbones, indicating that they would have held up garments such as a cloak. Some of the items could have been imported from across Europe, including amber beads and various metals and raw materials. One particular unique burial was found with a sharp iron object embedded in the individual’s spine.

“1,500 years ago, people in Britain stopped writing things down. Traditionally, this period has been dismissed as a Dark Age,” Snow, historian and presenter, said. “But archaeology has filled the gaps. By studying the things our forebears have left in the ground—their glass, jewelry, weapons and even their bodies—we can build a rich picture of a dynamic and vital period of our history. This stunning set of discoveries on the HS2 route can tell us more about how our predecessors lived, fought and ultimately died. It is one of the best and most revealing post-Roman sites in the country, and it was thrilling to join the team as they uncovered their wonderful finds.”

Mike Court, lead archaeologist for HS2 Ltd, added, “As we near the end of our archaeology field work on phase one of HS2, we are just at the beginning of our understanding of how the discoveries will improve our historical knowledge of Britain. The archaeological finds made at this site in Wendover will not only be of interest to the local community but are of national importance, providing a valuable insight into life in Anglo-Saxon Britain.”

Dr. Rachel Wood, lead archaeologist for Fusion JV, HS2’s enabling works contractor, said: “The significance of this site for our historical and archaeological understanding of Anglo-Saxon Britain is huge. It is not a site I would ever have anticipated finding—to have found one of these burials would have been astonishing, so to have found so many is quite unbelievable. The proximity of the date of this cemetery to the end of the Roman period is particularly exciting, especially as it is a period we know comparatively little about. The material objects will tell us so much about the people who lived during this period, as will the people themselves.”