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XII.—An Anglo-Saxon Cemetery in Ipswich

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2011

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On January 4th of this year (1906) when visiting some works that had been started for the relief of the unemployed at Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, I was fortunate enough to discover that the high land which was being levelled was the site of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery. The slope overlooks the river Gipping, and is on the west side of the town, near the railway. (See plan, Fig. 1.) Already over 150 men had been at work for two months, little dreaming that treasures of antiquity were being thrown away at nearly every stroke of the pick. Five skeletons had been found, but these had been pronounced quite recent, and were re-interred without further notice being taken of them.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1907

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References

page 326 note a A number of skulls since found have also been subject to post-deformation, the result of burial without a coffin.

page 327 note a Since reading this paper the work has been continued, and the total number of graves examined has now reached 159. See Appendix.

page 327 note b For the full number of relics found, including those since the paper was read, see Appendix.

page 329 note a This coin was unfortunately lost in the post, and has not been recovered.

page 330 note a This is I imagine due to land creep, as I have since noticed the same peculiarity in other skeletons.

page 330 note b Possibly the spear, being too long for the grave, was placed in a more or less upright position.

page 330 note c I believe all the knives were originally in leather sheaths, and were stuck in a belt.

page 335 note a In the accompanying plates the order of the beads has been somewhat rearranged so as to show every variety of pattern found; consequently the necklaces do not show the symmetrical order above referred to, nor the large proportion of amber beads.

page 336 note a One other which was taken from the field was purchased by Clement Casley, Esq., and has been presented to Ipswich Museum.

page 336 note b Analysis of fragments of the blue glass bowls, by E. G. McBretney, F.I.C., F.C.S., Castleford, Yorks.

page 337 note a Since the above paper was read I have found many more urns containing bones.

page 338 note a These were found by the unemployed workmen and brought to me. I was told that two other glass vessels had been taken off the field, one of which was broken and one sold.

page 347 note a These measurements were kindly made for me by Mr. C. W. Macfell, assistant borough surveyor, Ipswich.