Monument record 2696/1 - Early Saxon cemetery, east of Fotheringhay Road

Site of an early Anglo-Saxon cemetery probably destroyed by gravel extraction. Mainly inhumations with a few cremations, cinerary urns, brooches and spearheads were recovered in advance of gravel extraction. In use from circa 410-600.

{1} Excavation in 1942 at a gravel pit. Early Saxon cemetery. Many graves were destroyed and possibly unrecorded. Three cremations in pots were found, two with associated bronze and iron iron objects. 56 graves containing the remains of 65 bodies were identified, all but three containing grave goods. The latter included shield bosses, knives, spearheads, a bucket, brooches, clasps, beads, pendants and pins. Most of the finds are held at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, but some are at Peterborough Museum . Also with Wyman Abbott, Mr E. R. Martin and Mr R. J. C. Atkinson. Most of the Wyman finds are from the Fitzwilliam Museum. There is a representative collection at Peterborough Museum. Further details of the spearheads given.

{3} The pots and early types of brooch show that the site came into use in the early years after the conquest, but survived to after c 550.
MUSEUM: Peterborough

{6, 13} An Anglo-Saxon cemetery, "the largest of its period yet found in the county", was discovered in gravel-digging in 1942. Many graves were destroyed by the machanical scraper, but 50 were recorded by G Wyman Abbott, and five more by Mr E R Martin; Atkinson also found five more, three of which he excavated. All but three of the graves were inhumations; the three exceptions were cremations, the urns of which were smashed by the scraper. The finds, which include several definite and probable Celtic objects, show clearly two stages in the early history of occupation, the first, a culture predominantly Saxon; the second, a powerful infiltration of Anglian influences, not before the later 6th c.
FINDS: Many finds held by Mr Abbott; Mr F G Preston of Nassington, owner of the land; and Oundle School. (Siting: map, fig 1, confirms OS Siting).

{12} Saxon cemetery, TL 071956. Further details of the spearheads from this cemetery have now been published.

{14} First hand account of excavation and photograph of brooch;

{17} Published site confirmed by Mr Wyman Abbot; he retains some of the material but has forwarded the bulk of the collection to Cambridge (Fitzwilliam museum). Peterborough museum also holds a representative collection.

{9} (TL 0716 9564) Anglo-Saxon Burial Ground (LB)

[Most of the finds, along with G. Wyman Abbott’s excavation notebook, are actually held at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge rather than the Fitzwilliam Museum].

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 68/site 27 (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Peterborough Museum Finds Index, (checked) (Index). SNN5553.

<3> Meaney A.L., 1964, Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites, p.192 (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN10289.

<4> Nene Valley Research Committee SMR Records, (unchecked) (Index). SNN4499.

<5> SWANTON M.J., 1973, Spearheads of Anglo-Saxon Settlements, p.199 (unchecked) (Report). SNN46587.

<6> 1944, The Antiquaries Journal (24), p.100-128 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN11389.

<7> 1949, Journal of The Northamptonshire Natural History Society and Field Club, p.34-35 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN11390.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL09NE10 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1958, OS 6 INCH MAP, OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN11392.

<10> 1943, The Antiquaries Journal (23), p.58 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN46586.

<11> 1974, British Archaeological Reports (BAR 7), p.69-70 (unchecked) (Series). SNN11393.

<12> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.190/Site 27 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<13> LEEDS E.T.; ATKINSON R.J.C., 1944, An Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Nassington, Northants, p. 100-128 (Article). SNN70010.

<14> Pickering, N, 1993, Anglo-Saxon cemetery (Letter). SNN111319.

<15> Abbott, G W, c1942, Report of finds at Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Nassington (Notes). SNN112466.

<16> MYRES J.N.L., 1977, A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Pottery of The Pagan Period (Both Vols), p. 103 (Book). SNN55363.

<17> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 17-JUL-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

Record last edited

May 5 2022 1:44PM