Monument record 1301/40 - Possible Early Saxon Cemetery, Marshalls Road

A burial, probably dating to the 6th century AD, was found during the excavation of a fishpond. Grave goods, including a knife and a belt buckle, were also recovered. A subsequent Time Team excavation found two further inhumations, one of which, a female, also included grave goods.

{1} Whilst excavating a garden pond a human skull and a pot were disturbed. The skull belonged to an inhumation burial of an adult male. The pot, which was almost complete, is a handmade Saxon plain, bossed vessel of probable late 6th century to early 7th century.

{2} During construction of a fish pond an Anglo Saxon burial was unearthed and thought to date to the C6th AD. Grave goods, including a knife and belt buckle were also discovered. A variety of geophysical techniques were used with aim of identifying any possible graves and other features of possible archaeological interest.

A few isolated strong reflections were visible throughout the data. The reflection in one location was found to coincide with a burial. It is unclear what causes this reflection although the most likely source is the skull and adjacent vessel. (Other similar reflections proved to be variations in the depth to the bedrock.)

Time Team excavation

{3} Osteological report for the skeleton found at Raunds. The skeleton was that of a male between the age of 35-45. A radiocarbon date for this burials was placed in the early Saxon period.

{4} Documentary archive of the Time Team excavations including several finds reports. Two further inhumations were identified during the course of the dig. One was found in Trench 3 and the other in Trench 7, although it is unclear precisely where they were. The inhumation in Trench 3 was of a female with a number of grave goods including an accessory vessel, possible silver necklace with glass beads, iron knife, stone pendant and possible box fitting.

{5} Osteological report for the two burials found during the Time Team dig. Probable female aged 20-35 possibly with small dog buried at her feet and other grave goods. The other was the skeleton of a child c6 years old.

{6} Anglo-Saxon accessory vessel found with the inhumation found during the Time Team dig. The vessel was found resting on the skull of the deceased at an angle of 45 degrees. This may have happened during backfilling. It had extensive sooting and wear on the rim and was an ordinary cooking pot. Different to the accessry vessel found in 1991 which had no sooting and four internally pressed-out bosses.

{7} Small finds analysis of grave goods from females grave which included a possible box fitting, stone pendant,brooch, possible fragments of a knife, knife, fragments of silver necklace, blue glass bead. Other finds from the excavation included fragments of another knife, possibly from the partial burial.

<1> Horne B. (Editor), 2001, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (31), p. 37 (Newsletter). SNN112958.

<2> Ovenden-Wilson S.M., 2002, Raunds, Northamptonshire, Geophysical Survey Report, (checked) (Report). SNN102133.

<3> Dr Alice M Roberts, 2002, Report for Time Team on the Raunds Skeleton (Report). SNN116776.

<4> Time Team, 2002, Archive of Time Team excavation at 34 Marshalls Road, Raunds, 2002 (Archive). SNN116778.

<5> Dr Alice M Roberts, 2002, Further report on the human remains from Raunds, Northamptonshire: Skeletons RAU 02 306 & RAU 02 106 (Report). SNN116777.

<6> Paul Blinkhorn, 2002, Pottery from Marshall's Road, Raunds (Site RAU02) (Report). SNN116779.

<7> Ceinwen Paynton, 2002, Small Finds from Raunds (Sitecode RAU02); Time Team, Shoot 1, Series X (Report). SNN116780.

Record last edited

Mar 28 2025 12:09PM