The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Edix Hill (Barrington A), Cambridgeshire: Excavations 1989-1991 and a Summary Catalogue of Material from 19th Century Interventions

Description

With contributions from Elisabeth Crowfoot, Richard Darrah, Brian Gilmour, Celia Honeycombe, Audrey Meaney, Catherine Mortimer, Chris Salter, George Speake and Jacqui Watson, and incorporating analyses by Debbie Banham, Tania Dickinson, Heinrich Härke, Sue Hirst, Karen Høilund Nielsen, Ian Riddler and Morag Woudhuysen. Illustrations by Caroline Malim, Joanna Richards and Twigs Way; with contributions by Nadeshda Knudsen, Jon Cane, Elizabeth Stone and Melodie Paice. Barrington has been a familiar name in Anglo-Saxon archaeology since the discovery of its cemeteries in the 19th century. In 1987 the site of Barrington A (Edix Hill) was rediscovered by a metal-detector user. Approximately 50% of the cemetery was investigated as part of the ensuing excavations which recovered skeletal remains of 149 individuals buried in 115 graves from a burial ground which had been used over 150 years during the 6th and 7th centuries. The community appears to have been neither especially rich nor poor, and it is this apparent normality that makes the cemetery population a particularly interesting one to study. Costume groups suggest a community of mixed cultural affinities. In the 7th century a few high status individuals were more evident, including the occupants of two rare 'bed-burials. The human bone was exceptionally well preserved and has allowed a detailed study of the population buried at Edix Hill to be undertaken. Standard analysis of sex, age and stature has revealed equal numbers of women and men, some living to more than 45 years of age, with children and adolescents also represented. They were a relatively healthy and robust community, but cases of cancer and leprosy can be identified, as well as battle wounds. The combination of several sets of data suggests that links can be drawn between related individuals within the cemetery. List of tables x List of figures xi Acknowledgements xvii Summary xviii I. INTRODUCTION Chapter 1. Background to the excavations 3 Chapter 2. The excavations 13 II. MATERIAL EVIDENCE Chapter 3. The graves 23 Chapter 4. The human skeletal material 154 Chapter 5. The finds 200 Chapter 6. Technical analyses and reconstructions 229 III. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION Chapter 7. Chronology of the burials 279 Chapter 8. Social analysis 292 Chapter 9. The Edix Hill cemetery in its regional context 319 Bibliography 328 Index 338