Anglo-Saxon human remains, grave and pits, possibly part of N cemetery, at M11 Area XLI, east of Ickleton (EHER 4005)

Human remains found during M11 surveillance in area XLI.

Human remains from M11 surveillance in area XLI. Located after removal of tree stumps, along with rubbish pit contents. <1> <2> Considered to be from one person but a second mandible was reportedly found 5m away. Bones included: tibia, femurs, mandible, sacrum (probably female), rib and radius. They seemed to be of a young person, possibly a young girl. These finds are obviously from a part of the cemetery explored by Neville in 1847 during the construction of the Chesterford to Newmarket railway in which 15 infant burials and 1 Saxon (?) interment were found. <2> Site Assessment: Limited dating information available in SMR. This site was located in an infilled Victorian gravel pit, in the base of which was a series of pit bottoms, all less than 0.2m deep. However, the depth of the gravel pit means that they must originally have measured more than 2m in depth. The Victorian infill included large quantities of pottery dating from the late Iron Age to the 2nd century. Pit 1. Oval in plan, cuts Pit 4, contained samian, grey ware and small fragments of animal bone and oyster shell. Pit 2. Oval in plan, cuts Pit 3. Pit 3. Largest pit, elongated oval in plan, cut by Pit 2 and cuts 4. Lots of shell-tempered ware, mid–late 4th century. Pit 4. Small circular pit, cut by Pits 1 and 3. Two fills. Pit 5. Roughly circular pit. Pit 6. Roughly oval pit. Pit 7. Sub-rectangular pit. One tiny fragment of calcitegritted ware and 186 oyster shells. Pit 8. Square pit. Grave 1. Corner of a grave, much disturbed by box scraper. Remains of a small skeleton (child or young girl). Included a single Saxon sherd. The human remains were considered to be from one person, but a second mandible was reportedly found 5m away. Bones included tibia, femurs, mandible, sacrum (probably female), rib and radius. They seemed to be of a young person, possibly a young girl. <4> Note: The mapped location is possibly the location of the human remains discovered in 'Grave 1' as depicted on the figure in source <2>, however it is not possible to be certain.