- Joined
- Jun 12, 2018
- Messages
- 1,541
Its being said that its among the best swords unearthed so far for that period.
"It has a silver-and-gilt hilt, with a decorative pattern in fine craftsmanship, and a blade bearing a runic script. Even elements of its leather-and-wood scabbard and the beaver fur that lined it have also survived. Attached to its pommel is a ring, perhaps symbolising an oath to a king or another high-status individual."
There are many more discoveries to be made at the Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Canterbury. Its exact location is not being disclosed because there is a lot more to dig up. It's discoveries will be featured in BBC Two’s forthcoming six-part Digging for Britain series which begins on January 7th at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. Twelve burials have been excavated so far and there are thought to be 200 more to dig up.
The excavation is part of a larger study of 300 Anglo-Saxons which has come to show that there was a significant migration, especially on the east coast, taking place over generations. The people came from multiple places during the 5th and 6th centuries. The type of items people were buried with yields clues about who they were and where they may have come from.
All the male graves have weapons such as spears, iron spear tips, seaxes, and shields. All the female graves have knives, as well as brooches and buckles, among other objects. They have found items of Frankish and Swedish origins, and some gold jewelry in the graves. They also found fly pupae on the sword which probably means the body wasn't buried immediately, indicating possible funeral practices that were carried out.
"It has a silver-and-gilt hilt, with a decorative pattern in fine craftsmanship, and a blade bearing a runic script. Even elements of its leather-and-wood scabbard and the beaver fur that lined it have also survived. Attached to its pommel is a ring, perhaps symbolising an oath to a king or another high-status individual."
There are many more discoveries to be made at the Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Canterbury. Its exact location is not being disclosed because there is a lot more to dig up. It's discoveries will be featured in BBC Two’s forthcoming six-part Digging for Britain series which begins on January 7th at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. Twelve burials have been excavated so far and there are thought to be 200 more to dig up.
The excavation is part of a larger study of 300 Anglo-Saxons which has come to show that there was a significant migration, especially on the east coast, taking place over generations. The people came from multiple places during the 5th and 6th centuries. The type of items people were buried with yields clues about who they were and where they may have come from.
All the male graves have weapons such as spears, iron spear tips, seaxes, and shields. All the female graves have knives, as well as brooches and buckles, among other objects. They have found items of Frankish and Swedish origins, and some gold jewelry in the graves. They also found fly pupae on the sword which probably means the body wasn't buried immediately, indicating possible funeral practices that were carried out.
