“Quite unbelievable”: Anglo-Saxon burial site in Buckinghamshire represents significant historical find
Archaeologists working on HS2 have uncovered one of the UK’s largest Anglo-Saxon burial sites in Wendover, Buckinghamshire.
Some 141 burials have been excavated, revealing a large cache of ‘grave goods’ including jewellery, swords, shields, spears, and even a personal hygiene kit complete with ear wax remover and tweezers.
Some of the items are believed to have been imported from across Europe, such as amber beads and various metals used to make the artefacts. Two glass cone beakers were found intact - these are similar to vessels known to have been made in northern France.
Many of the burials had two brooches on their collarbone, some made with gilt or coin brooches made of silver.
One high-status female was discovered with a vast array of goods including an ornate bowl made of pale green glass, multiple rings made of copper alloy, a silver ring, iron belt fittings, and objects made of ivory.
The items uncovered have been dated to the fifth and sixth century, suggesting that the site was the final resting place for a wealthy Anglo-Saxon community.
The team of around 30 field archaeologists, which completed the fieldwork in 2021 on behalf of HS2’s enabling works contractor Fusion
JV, says the discovery will contribute a significant level of understanding to a period in which there are currently large gaps in historical and archaeological records.
“The significance of this site for our historical understanding of Anglo-Saxon Britain is huge,” said lead archaeologist
Dr Rachel Wood.
“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 material objects will tell us so much about the people who lived during this period, as will the people themselves.”
The site is known to have been in use over a long period, with evidence of Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman activity also uncovered.
The rare discoveries feature in a programme on Dan Snow’s History Hit streaming service and podcast, released on June 16.