Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries at Eriswell (RAF Lakenheath)
Excavation of three early Anglo Saxon cemeteries at RAF Lakenheath
between 1997 and 2002 uncovered a total of 394 inhumation and 17
cremation burials; the inclusion of burials from earlier
excavations by Grace, Lady Briscoe, gives a total of 446.
Cemeteries ERL 104 and 114 were almost fully excavated with the
majority of the cemetery limits exposed, but only the southern and
western limits of ERL 046 were contained within the excavation.
Small areas of all three cemeteries remain preserved below roads,
buildings and grass.
A high proportion of the inhumations produced grave goods ranging
from individual beads and iron knives, through full weapons burials
and furnished female graves to animal sacrifices. The most exotic
burials were two cases in which men were buried in graves within
small ring-ditches and accompanied by their horses. The first of
these burials from site ERL 104 aroused much excitement, receiving
international media coverage. It included in situ gilded bronze
bridle fittings, the first time this has been found in
Britain.
The vast majority of burials were east-west
aligned, and supine extended or flexed. There was little rigid
order to the burials on site ERL 104, although short lines can be
seen in certain areas. Most of the burials on ERL 046 were clearly
aligned in rows and the ‘wealthier’ burials seemed to be grouped to
the west end of the cemetery. Two Bronze Age inhumations excavated
within a circular area devoid of Saxon burials in the centre of ERL
114 were indicators of the prehistoric burial mound which was to
become the focus of this cemetery. This is the largest group of
Early Anglo-Saxon burials excavated in Suffolk and one of the
largest in the country in modern times. More than half the burials
have been assessed as in fair condition or better, thus
representing the largest group of reasonably preserved Anglo-Saxon
skeletons in Suffolk, and one of the largest in the country in
modern times. The date range of the cemetery group as a whole has
been provisionally identified as late 5th to early 7th century AD
and grave goods typical of both the Migration and Conversion
Periods have been recorded.
The intensity of development at RAF Lakenheath
means that there is an unusually high degree of recently excavated
settlement and landscape information available to provide a context
for the cemeteries. Evidence of settlement, with dwellings and
occupation deposits, from the 6th to the 8th centuries has been
found nearby, and dense late Roman settlement lies within 500m.
There is evidence of extensive field systems showing a continuity
of land use in this area dating from the prehistoric to medieval
periods. The possible presence of some ditches contemporary with
the cemetery use may provide evidence for the wider landscape
around the cemeteries during the Early Saxon period.
The excavation of three adjacent cemeteries is a
rare occurrence and 
these form the largest Anglo-Saxon cemetery sample available for
modern analysis. Study of it is likely to increase the possibility
of deriving good evidence for debate on gender, class, ethnicity
and social organisation within rural Anglo-Saxon communities, an
eventuality which will be enhanced by the good state of
preservation and the apparent completeness of the cemeteries.
Assessment has shown that the excavated evidence has good potential
to contribute greatly to the understanding of Early Saxon
population studies, funerary ritual, social structures, artefact
studies and the relationship between cemetery, settlement and the
wider historic landscape. The significance of these sites and the
value of the information contained within them cannot be
overstated.
Contact details:
Richenda Goffin and Jo Caruth
Post-Excavation Manager and Senior Project Officer
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service
9-10 The Churchyard
Shire Hall
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 1RX
Telephone: 01284 741250
Email:
richenda.goffin@suffolk.gov.uk
or
joanna.caruth@suffolk.gov.uk