Anglo-Saxon Cemetery Secrets Unlocked on BBC's 'Digging for Britain'

In an exciting development in the world of archaeology, a new episode of BBC's "Digging for Britain" is set to showcase the recent discovery of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in rural Lincolnshire, in the east of England. The episode, airing on Tuesday, 9 January at 8 pm, will highlight a range of artifacts unearthed during the construction of Viking Link, the world's longest land and subsea interconnector.

The Viking Link project, a joint venture between National Grid and Danish system operator Energinet, became operational on 29 December. It was during this construction that Wessex Archaeology made the significant discovery. The excavation led to the retrieval of various items, including jewelry, pottery, and the remains of 23 individuals from the Anglo-Saxon era.

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Professor Alice Roberts, presenter of the show, expressed her excitement about the find:

"The middle of the first millennium in Britain is a mysterious period – historical sources are thin on the ground. So any archaeological discoveries from this time are precious and help us to understand what was happening. These burials included some beautiful grave goods, but I can’t wait to find out more about the individuals themselves, with post-excavation analysis of the bones and teeth."

Since 2020, over 50 archaeological sites have been excavated along the onshore cable route of Viking Link, revealing a plethora of historical evidence. These findings provide insights into life in rural south-east Lincolnshire from prehistory to the present day, including a Bronze Age barrow and a Romano-British farmstead. Among these, the Anglo-Saxon cemetery is the most remarkable, dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries AD.

Peter Bryant, who led the excavation for Viking Link, shared his experiences:

"It was surprising how many artifacts we found across the route – the gold Anglo-Saxon pendant from the burial ground was a highlight."

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One of the Anglo-Saxon burials found by Wessex Archaeologists at the Lincolnshire cemetery. (Screenshot/ © Wessex Archaeology)

Curiously, this cemetery is deliberately focused on an earlier Bronze Age ring ditch, indicating a longstanding funerary landscape. Artifacts recovered from the site include knives, jewelry, and pottery vessels.

A standout find was the burial of a teenage girl and a child, adorned with gold pendants, beads, and an annular brooch. Both lay on their sides with the child tucked in behind the older girl.

The two small gold pendants set with garnets and a delicate silver pendant with an amber mount were recovered from around the teenager’s head or chest, together with two small blue glass beads and an annular brooch.

Left; Anglo-Saxon Gold pendant with garnet stone. Right; Donut shaped translucent light turquoise beads. (© Wessex Archaeology)

Research and analysis are ongoing to determine the relationship between the child and teenager, as well as familial relationships and broader genetic links within the community. The specialists are also examining the cemetery's layout and artifacts to learn about the community's economic, cultural, and social aspects.

Jacqueline McKinley, Principal Osteoarchaeologist at Wessex Archaeology, commented on the significance of the discovery:

"Excitingly, here we can employ various scientific advancements, including isotopic and DNA analyses. This will give us a far better understanding of the population."

This remarkable discovery and ongoing research offer a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of Anglo-Saxon life and death in the region, promising new insights into a historically rich period of British history.

This article is based on a press release from National Grid and Wessex Archaeology.

Top image: Prof Alice Roberts with Jacqueline Mckinley and Ceri Boston from Wessex Archaeology with human remains from the Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Lincolnshire. Source: © Wessex Archaeology

By Gary Manners