Anglo-Saxon cemetery to the northwest of Great Chesterford, part of N cemetery, Great Chesterford (EHER 4939)

Commercial gravel extraction in 1952 revealed and destroyed around 100 Anglo-Saxon inhumation burials. This prompted a series of rescue excavations (Phases I-III) from 1953 to 1955, directed first by F.K. Annable and then V.I. Evison. The rescue excavations were heavily restricted by the commercial operators of the gravel extraction at the site, often with archaeological interventions being limited to restricted areas and only to the excavation of Anglo-Saxon remains. In between each series of rescue excavation, further inhumations were likely destroyed by continued extraction work which was undertaken without involvement from an archaeologist, and artefacts from these features made their way into private posession. In one case, this work brought human remains to the surface, and Evison was prohibited from removing or recording these. By April 1955, 161 inhumation graves (containing 167 individuals), 33 cremation graves, two horse and two dog burials had been excavated, and further excavation was ceased. Along with the more than 100 suspected destroyed burials, the features represent an extensive Anglo-Saxon cemetery of mixed burial rite, dating from 450-600. A rich assemblage of grave goods was recorded, including weapons and jewellery. The human remains were well preserved, and a high number of infant burials were recorded. There was little disturbance of one grave by another suggesting that the graves had surface markers. The findings were initially published in the 1980s in a journal article by J. Draper, and subsequently drawn up into a CBA Research Report (91) in 1994. More recently in 2015 and 2018, analysis of some human remains from the cemetery identified the earliest evidence of the M. Lapreae genome.

The following is a brief description of the work which has been undertaken at the site. 1951. Scheduled Ancient Monument. <1> <2> 1952. Gravel extraction. Gravel extraction destroyed about 100 graves, see EHER 83486. February-June 1953. Phase I rescue excavation. 68 Anglo-Saxon graves and 6 cremations were excavated under rescue conditions, excavation taking place as soon as they were discovered by commercial operators of gravel extraction. Of these, one adult grave, various infant graves and the six cremations were excavated by F.K. Annable, the remaining graves were excavated by V.I. Evison. <3> The results of this work are published in source <4>. July-October 1953. Gravel extraction. Gravel extraction destroyed more graves and leaves some partially exposed, see EHER 83490. October 1953-April 1954. Phase II rescue excavation. Excavation was resumed by Evison at intervals and with a brief to concentrate on the rescue excavation of the Anglo-Saxon graves only. Investigation of the Roman pits and other features was not allowed as the ground was to be left as level as possible for the convenienve of the machines used in gravel digging. Baulks left in the previous excavation were removed, resulting in the discovery of graves, 87, 118, 120, 123, 125 and 132 and cremations 9 and 21. <3> 7 February 1955-10 February 1955. Gravel extraction. A track had destroyed more graves and left some human remains exposed. The track was extended to a length of 150 yards, (137m) during these dates and archaeological intervention was not permitted in this area, not even to remove human remains. See EHER 83491. 10 February 1955. Phase III rescue excavation. By April 1955 the total of graves excavated had increased to 160 and cremations to 33, and no further excavation was permitted. <3> 2008. Publication. The human remains from the rescue excavations were given to the University of Southampton by English Heritage in the summer of 2004. Although mostly labelled, the elements were boxed by element, rather than by discrete individual. The labelled skeletal material was reorganised back into individuals, but problems arose when trying to identify the origin of unlabelled skeletal elements. The University applied a new processes of cataloguing the remains, and began a preliminary analysis of the collection. The aim was to highlight the research potential of the collection. A comparison with the original report and a brief description of unreported pathologies is also provided. Notable features include a high level of infant recovery and significant levels of infectious disease, potentially tuberculosis. The catalogue can be used as a research tool, containing data on age, sex, preservation, completeness and other useful traits and pathologies. The data can be easily searched to ascertain whether the collection would be suitable for any research needs. It is intended that additional data will be added to the inventory in the future in order to aid other researchers. <5> 2010. PhD research. A 2010 PhD thesis analysed the mortuary patterns of the cemetery to further understand the lived experience of the children. <6> 2015. Publication. Scientific assessment of leprosy bacteria in the human remains from Grave 96. <7> <8> 2018. Publication. The 10 newly sequenced medieval M. leprae genomes allow us to trace back the last 1500 years of leprosy history in Europe and illustrate the high diversity of strains circulating in Europe during this time transect. Previous genome wide data suggested the existence of only two branches in medieval Europe, branch 2F (previously branch 2) present at least from the 10th to the 12th century and branch 3 in the Late Medieval Period [9, 20]. Our results reveal a higher diversity in medieval Europe than anticipated. Strains belonging to the ancestral branch 0 and associated with modern strains from East Asia were found in Hungary (SK11) and Denmark (Jorgen 507) confirming the presence of this branch in Europe since at least the 7-8th century [23]. The so far oldest M. Leprae genome, GC96 from Great Chesterford falls into branch 3 confirming the existence of this branch in Europe since at least the 5th century. <8> The remaining is a general description of the site gathered from several sources. An Anglo Saxon mixed cemetery of 161 inhumation graves, 33 cremation graves, two horse and two dog burials. Situated to the north-west of the Roman town, lying on the east bank of the River Cam. Commercial digging of gravel in 1952 produced evidence of Saxon burials; it was estimated that some 100 graves may have been destroyed without record (see EHER 83486). A few objects found their way into private posession and were recorded by Cambridge Museum (see EHER 83486). Previous finds from the area include a cruciform brooch found in 1819, at one time in Liverpool Museum but no longer extant (see EHER 83495); an Anglo Saxon type bowl from west of Borough Field (was in Audley End Museum, now at Cambridge AE Museum, see EHER 83496) and an urn and spearhead found at TL 50 43 (EHER 83494). <3> <4> <9>-<14> Fox theorised an Anglo-Saxon settlement and cemetery at Great Chesterford in 1923, writing that 'One decorated vessel of cinerary urn type is in the Cambridge Museum, together with plain pipkins characteristic of the period ; one of these latter was associated with charcoal, a bone spindle-whorl and a fragment of bronze [EHER 83493]. A plain bowl of Anglo-Saxon type 4 inches high, in the Audley End Museum, is said to have been found “to the west of Borough Field,” and this may have been the site of the cemetery of the settlement. A late VI century cruciform fibula in the Liverpool Museum, from “Chesterford,” is figured by Brown'. <11> Excavations by and V.I. Evison and F.K. Annable on behalf of the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments in 1953 revealed Roman pits and postholes (see EHER 13925) and Saxon burials; V.I. Evison excavated the Saxon burials as they appeared. Intermittent excavation of the Saxon burials continued under the directorship of Evison in advance of gravel extraction until 1955; further excavation of the Roman pits and other features beyond this time was not undertaken as the ground had to be kept level as for the convenience of the gravel extractors. The excavated area is thought to be a section cut through the centre of the cemetery with only the southern limit defined. There was little disturbance of one grave by another so it is assumed there were surface markers. Depth of graves ranged from 10 to 175cm. Skeletons were fairly well preserved; 88 adults; 83 non-adults; 42 males; 63 females and 66 not sexed. There was a very high incidence of non-adults, including 15 foetuses. A group of men buried without weapons but with exotic grave-goods may be the Romano-British element or foreign merchants. Evison discusses groupings within the cemetery associated with religion and the presence of Roman tumuli. Cremations were all in pots; 31 in total of which 21 adult; 3 non-adults; 7 not aged; males 2; females 12; not sexed 28. Evison defines four phases of the cemetery giving a date range of AD 450-600. Grave-goods included two swords; spears; shield bosses brooches; a pendant; bracelets; wrist-clasps; pottery; glass vessels; bronze bowls; buckets; knives; girdle-hangers; a hone; fire steels; combs and an ivory ring. No gold objects and little silver. Nails in grave fills may be from coffins or biers. The focus of the associated Anglo-Saxon settlement is still to be found. <3> Artefacts still undergoing analysis at the British Museum. <15> Most artefacts in the British Museum. <16> <17> Site Assessment: Site probably partly destroyed by gravel extraction. Further burials might lie to the east of the excavated area. <3> See also <18>. NRHE data transfer: TL 501435: Anglo-Saxon mixed cemetery found at Great Chesterford. Earliest finds are a 6th century cruciform brooch, then in Liverpool Museum, now no longer extant, an urn found associated with a spindle whorl etc in Cambridge Museum, and an Anglo-Saxon type bowl from west of Borough Field in Audley End Museum. In 1952 an Anglo-Saxon urn and spearhead were found at TL 50 43, reported by Bushnell. In 1953-57 Miss Evison excavated a mixed cemetery with 160 inhumations and 33 cremations in circa TL 501 434 (Confirmed by J G Hurst who was present at MOW excavations). The earliest material found was 5th century. Only the west and south limits of the cemetery were found. Some of the finds are in the Cambridge University and over 100 skeletons are in the Duckworth Laboratory. <9> <19> <20> January 1977. Field survey. The area lies on a gentle west slope above disused quarry workings. No trace of the cemetery or excavations survive on the surface, of the ground which is under plough. Audley End Museum is now closed and the collection is held by the Archaeological and Ethnological Museum, Cambridge. <21> Additional bibliography. <22> See also <23>.