Monument record 2580/0/7 - Early Saxon cemetery, north-west of Cowpasture Spinney

Archaeological investigation prior to development identified a large Saxon cemetery. 154 Anglo-Saxon burials were found with many grave goods.

{1} To the east of the ring ditch (2008/0/1) and partially seen in the trench was a rectangular grave measuring 1.7m long and at least 1m wide. The grave was aligned approx north-south with the head to the south. The grave was not fully exposed or excavated with the remaining contents left insitu. An iron shield boss, a copper alloy buckle and plate and an iron strip were recovered during the metal detecting survey. The artefacts together with the location of the grave outside the ring ditch suggests that this was a high status Anglo-Saxon burial of the 6th-century, which may have been interred considerably later than the construction of the Ring Ditch itself.

{2} Archaeological excavation identified 154 Saxon burials with a wide-range of grave goods totalling nearly 3,000 objects (including 25 spears, 40 knives, 15 shield bosses, 150 brooches, 15 rings, 75 wrist clasps, 15 chatelaines and over 2000 beads, as well as evryday objects such as cosmetic kits and bone combs).

<1> Simmonds C., 2011, Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation on Land at Overstone Leys, Overstone, Northamptonshire Phase 2, p.17 (checked) (Report). SNN107939.

<2> Current Archaeology, 2021, Northamptonshire’s largest Anglo-Saxon cemetery discovered (Note). SNN112661.

<3> Crank, N. (Editor), 2023, South Midlands Archaeology (53), P. 66-70 (Journal). SNN116414.

Record last edited

Jun 25 2024 9:59AM