UK: trovate 23 sepolture del VI secolo

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Trovate 23 sepolture del VI secolo e 250 oggetti di corredo. Il mistero della tomba di una ragazzina con orecchini, accanto a un bambino

 

Il Wessex Archaeology ha annunciato la scoperta di un antico cimitero anglosassone durante gli scavi legati al progetto del Viking Link, un cavo elettrico sottomarino che connette il Regno Unito e la Danimarca. La rivelazione di questo sito archeologico offre uno sguardo prezioso su un periodo misterioso della storia britannica, compreso tra il VI e il VII secolo d.C.

Gli esperti, durante le indagini, hanno individuato tracce di un fossato ad anello risalente all’età del bronzo. L’area fu utilizzata poi, nell’Alto Medioevo. come cimitero, probabilmente collegato a una residenza non lontana, che non è stata identificata. Nel cimitero sono state sepolte 23 persone. Questi defunti avevano corredi funebri, tra cui coltelli, gioielli e vasi di ceramica. L’analisi dettagliata di circa 250 oggetti ha indicato che il cimitero era in uso per un periodo significativo, comprendente il VI e il VII secolo d.C.

Tra le sepolture, spiccano particolarmente quelle di un’adolescente e di un bambino, entrambi posizionati con cura su un fianco. L’adolescente, in particolare, è stata sepolta con ricchezza di oggetti, tra cui due pendenti d’oro incastonati di granati, una spilla anulare, due perle di vetro blu e un pendente d’argento con una montatura d’ambra, ritrovato attorno alla testa o al petto della giovane.

L’importanza di questa scoperta è stata evidenziata nel programma “Digging for Britain” della BBC, con la partecipazione della professoressa Alice Roberts. La studiosa ha sottolineato che il periodo a cavallo del primo millennio in Gran Bretagna è avvolto da misteri, dato che le fonti storiche sono scarse. Pertanto, le scoperte archeologiche, come questo cimitero anglosassone, diventano fondamentali per comprendere meglio la vita di quei tempi.

“La metà del primo millennio in Gran Bretagna è un periodo misterioso: le fonti storiche sono scarse”, ha affermato la professoressa Roberts. “Quindi tutte le scoperte archeologiche di questo periodo sono preziose e ci aiutano a capire cosa stava succedendo. Queste sepolture includevano alcuni bellissimi corredi funerari, ma non vedo l’ora di saperne di più sugli individui stessi, con l’analisi post-scavo delle ossa e dei denti”, ha aggiunto.

I ricercatori intendono approfondire ulteriormente la comprensione di questo antico cimitero attraverso analisi scientifiche avanzate. Jacqueline McKinley, principale osteoarcheologa del Wessex Archaeology, ha dichiarato: “Sebbene molti cimiteri anglosassoni siano conosciuti nel Lincolnshire, la maggior parte sono stati scavati decenni fa quando l’attenzione era rivolta ai corredi funerari, non alle persone lì sepolte. La cosa interessante è che qui possiamo impiegare vari progressi scientifici, comprese le analisi isotopiche e del DNA”.

L’equipe di ricerca si propone di condurre un’analisi isotopica e del DNA sui resti scheletrici al fine di identificare le relazioni familiari, nonché i collegamenti genetici più ampi tra tutte le sepolture presenti nel cimitero. Questo approccio scientifico avanzato fornirà nuove prospettive sulla mobilità delle persone in quella società antica e sulle loro abitudini alimentari, contribuendo così a gettare nuova luce su un capitolo affascinante della storia britannica.

https://stilearte.it/trovate-23-sepolture-del-vi-secolo-con-250-oggetti-di-corredo-il-mistero-della-tomba-di-una-ragazzina-con-orecchini-accanto-a-un-bambino-prova-del-dna/

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Wessex Archaeology finds Anglo-Saxon cemetery

Image Credit: Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology has uncovered an Anglo-Saxon cemetery during excavations for Viking Link, a submarine power cable connecting the United Kingdom and Denmark.

Excavations identified traces of a Bronze Age ring ditch, in addition to the burials of 23 individuals who were found with a range of funerary objects such as knives, jewellery, and ceramic vessels.

An analysis of 250 of the discovered objects suggest that the cemetery was in active use from the 6^th and 7^th centuries AD.

Among the burials is that of a teenage girl and a child who were both found placed on their sides. The girl was buried with two gold pendants set with garnets, an annular brooch, two blue glass beads, and a silver pendant with an amber mount which was found around the girls head or chest.

The discovery is featured on BBC’s Digging for Britain this January, with Professor Alice Roberts, stating: “The middle of the first millennium in Britain is a mysterious period – historical sources are thin on the ground.”

“So any archaeological discoveries from this time are precious and help us to understand what was happening. These burials included some beautiful grave goods, but I can’t wait to find out more about the individuals themselves, with post-excavation analysis of the bones and teeth,” added Professor Roberts.

The researchers plan to conduct an isotopic and DNA analyses of the skeletal remains to help identify the familiar relationships and broader genetic links between all the burials in the cemetery, as well as provide more information about the movement of people in wider society and their diet.

Jacqueline McKinley, Principal Osteoarchaeologist, Wessex Archaeology, said: “Although many Anglo-Saxon cemeteries are known in Lincolnshire, most were excavated decades ago when the focus was on the grave goods, not the people buried there. Excitingly, here we can employ various scientific advancements, including isotopic and DNA analyses.”

 

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/01/wessex-archaeology-finds-anglo-saxon-cemetery/150187/amp

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Anglo-Saxon cemetery discoveries made during excavations for Viking Link - the world’s longest land and subsea energy interconnector

08.01.24

Archaeological discoveries from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery excavated for National Grid’s Viking Link project - the world’s longest land and subsea interconnector sharing energy with the continent - feature in BBC’s Digging for Britain this January.

Since 2020, 50 archaeological sites have been dug along the onshore cable route. The wealth of evidence recovered is shedding light on life across rural south-east Lincolnshire from prehistory to the present day, with highlights including a Bronze Age barrow and a Romano-British farmstead. The most striking discovery, however, is the remains of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, which features in the BBC series.

Peter Bryant led the project for Viking Link. He said: “I really enjoyed being part of the project. It was surprising how many artefacts we found across the route - the gold Anglo-Saxon pendant from the burial ground was a highlight as was the outreach with the local communities to share what we found. It has been very interesting and exciting to help unearth the hidden treasures that have lain dormant for hundreds of years, in such a careful way. It was a pleasure working with Wessex Archaeology on this journey through time."

Professor Alice Roberts with osteologists Jacqueline McKinley and Ceri Boston from Wessex Archaeology in the Digging for Britain tent with two Anglo-Saxon burials found during excavations for Viking Link © Wessex Archaeology.

The burials in the cemetery deliberately focus on an earlier Bronze Age ring ditch and indicate the funerary landscape was long established. Archaeologists uncovered the buried remains of over 20 people alongside a range of grave goods including knives, jewellery and pottery vessels. From these 250 artefacts, experts know the cemetery dates to the 6th and 7th centuries AD.

Among the burials was that of a teenage girl and a child. Both lay on their sides with the child tucked in behind the older girl. Two small gold pendants set with garnets and a delicate silver pendant with an amber mount were recovered from around the teenager’s head or chest, together with two small blue glass beads and an annular brooch.

Jacqueline McKinley, Principal Osteoarchaeologist, Wessex Archaeology, said: “Although many Anglo-Saxon cemeteries are known in Lincolnshire, most were excavated decades ago when the focus was on the grave goods, not the people buried there. Excitingly, here we can employ various scientific advancements, including isotopic and DNA analyses. This will give us a far better understanding of the population, from their mobility to their genetic background and even their diet.”

 

Left: Anglo-Saxon gold pendant with garnet centre. Right: Doughnut shaped translucent light turquoise glass beads. Both © Wessex Archaeology.

The relationship between the child and the teenager is not yet known but research and analysis are ongoing and will include isotope and Ancient DNA analysis of these and other skeletal remains. This will help to identify familial relationships and broader genetic links both within this community and between others in the region, and the movement of people in wider society.

Specialists are also looking at the artefacts and the layout of the cemetery to learn about the economic, cultural and social factors affecting this community, including the import of exotic goods and the health of those buried within different parts of the cemetery.

As this research unfolds, we hope to greatly extend our understanding of Anglo-Saxon life and death in the region.

 

https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/news/anglo-saxon-cemetery-discoveries-made-during-excavations-viking-link-worlds-longest-onshore