Print friendly
An Anglo Saxon burial ground has been found in Norfolk, England.
Researchers think it dates to between the seventh and ninth centuries and is part of an early Christian community.
The find includes six plank-lined graves alongside 81 tree trunk coffins.
A wooden structure, thought to be a church, is nearby.
The graves were dug in an east-west alignment and marked with timber posts.
The archaeologists say the lack of grave goods suggest the remains are Christian, rather than Romans or prehistoric peoples.
Researchers are investigating the relationship between the plank-lined graves and tree trunk coffins.
The pit burials were carefully dug graves that were lined with expertly shaped planks. The bodies were laid in and then the grave was roofed with more planks.
The researchers estimate the log coffins would each have taken up to four days’ work to hollow out.
They say the coffins, which have been found in earlier cemeteries, could signify the blending of pagan and Christian practices.
The log coffin technique is known from much earlier burials in bronze age Europe.
The researchers think the differences could signify an evolution in burial practices.
The best of the timbers from the pits and the oak coffins will be preserved at Norwich Castle Museum.
The museum curator, Tim Pestell, is fascinated to have such early Christian period examples at the museum.
He said so far there does not seem to be any difference in status between the burials in plank-lined pits and those in the oak trunk coffins.
There are records of log coffins being found on other sites in the late 19th century.
Pestell says this is the first time any log coffins been excavated using modern archaeological techniques.
Source
Related Posts:
News category: World.
