Anglo-Saxon burial ground unearthed at HS2 site in Buckinghamshire

Image source, PA Media

The largest ever uncovered in the UK is an Anglo-Saxon burial ground with more than 100 graves.

Weapons, jewelry, and a skeleton with a weapon were found in Wendover.

There was evidence of activity from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods.

The significance of the site for the historical and archaeological understanding of Anglo-Saxon Britain is huge.

There were 141 regular burials at the site. Experts believe that a sharp iron object may have contributed to the death of the male skeleton.

A number of items were unearthed in the excavation last year.

A number of objects likely to have been used for grooming were found, including toiletry sets with ear wax removal and toothpicks, tweezers, combs and even a cosmetic tube that might have been used as eyeliner or similar.

The discoveries were filmed for History Hit.

This set of discoveries can tell us more about how our predecessors lived, fought and died.

It's one of the best and most revealing post Roman sites in the country and it was great to join the team as they uncovered their wonderful finds.

A complete ornate glass bowl made of pale green glass, multiple rings made of copper alloy, a silver "zoomorphic" ring, brooches, discs, iron belt fittings, and objects made of ivory were among the high quality goods found buried with a woman.

A team of about 30 field archaeologists from INFRA JV were hired by the contractor to complete field work at the site.

The programme is revealing secrets about Britain's past while the project is divisive.

More than 60 archaeological sites have been excavated over the last five years.

This latest find is being compared to the Anglo-Saxon ship that was found in 1939 at the site of the final resting place of King Raedwalk.

For some, even important archaeological discoveries still don't justify the construction of high speed 2, but for others, this is a chance to explore periods of our hidden history.

The significance of this site for our historical and archaeological understanding of Anglo- Saxon Britain is huge.

It is not a site I would have expected to find, so to find so many is unbelievable.

She said it was a unique find because of its size and scale.

"We have 141 individuals here, that's quite a large cemetery for the time that we know about, and over 70% of them have been found with strange objects," she said.

Normally one or two individuals in a small cemetery might have a comb with them, but here we have so many individuals with multiple objects from weaponry to jewellery to grooming kits.

There is a miniature form of the great square-headed brooch at the British Museum.

The two glass cone beakers that would have been used for drinking wine were also found.

Mike Court said that they are just at the beginning of their understanding of how the discoveries will improve our historical knowledge of Britain.

A valuable insight into life in Anglo-Saxon Britain will be provided by the archaeological finds made at the site in Wendover.

Dan Snow's History Hit will feature the discoveries.

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