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A skeleton with a spear embedded in its back is one of 141 human remains found along with eyeliner, ear wax remover and wine glasses at Anglo-Saxon burial ground in Buckinghamshire by HS2 archaeologists.

The skeleton (a male aged between 17 and 24 at the time of death) was found with a sharp iron object embedded in his vertebrae, suggesting he suffered a violent death.

The site near Wendover (UK), contained 138 graves with 141 inhumation burials and five cremation burials, making it one of the largest Anglo-Saxon burial grounds uncovered in Britain.

More than 2,000 beads were unearthed, along with 89 brooches, 40 buckles, 51 knives, 15 spearheads and seven shield bosses.

In recent media interviews, Dr Rachel Wood (lead archaeologist for Fusion JV, the company that carried out the field work) said it was a “once in a lifetime discovery”.

She also said: “It’s rare to discover Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, especially with this many individuals – men, women and children – and an amazing range of grave goods. Almost all the individuals were buried with fantastically decorated brooches and quite a lot of other unique objects”.

“To have found one of these burials would have been astonishing, so to have found so many is quite unbelievable. The proximity of the date of this cemetery to the end of the Roman period is particularly exciting, especially as it is a period we know comparatively little about.”

A team of 30 archaeologists worked on the site for almost a year, completing field work in 2021. As well as the Anglo-Saxon burial ground, evidence of Neolithic, bronze age, iron age and Roman activity was discovered.

According to HS2 Ltd, assessment and analysis on the objects will be carried out over the next few years, which could reveal more about the people buried at the site. 

📷 Photos: HS2/Fusion JV