Archaeologists in the U.K.have discovered a 1,400-year-old burial ground that contains “sand burials” of two elite people and a horse dating to Anglo-Saxon times.
The archaeological team from oxford Cotswold Archaeology found “at least 11 burial mounds, known as barrows, along with cremation and inhumation burials,” they wrote in a statement. The researchers found the burial ground ahead of the construction of a nuclear power plant near the village of Sizewell, which is in the eastern English district of Suffolk.
The site has acidic soil, which tends to degrade bone, but in two graves the outlines of skeletons were found. One grave had the outline of a horse while the other had the outlines of two people. These remnants are known as sand burials, as it looks like the individuals were made out of sand.
The burials, even the horse’s, contained grave goods.
“the horse was buried with its tack [riding gear] still on its head and shoulders that comprised [pieces] of copper alloy decoration and a probable iron bit in its mouth,” maria Bellissimo, a spokesperson at Oxford Cotswold Archaeology, told Live Science in an email. The two people “were buried with a sword, a spear, two shields, an iron banded bucket, along with a copper and a silver vessel.”
Although the sand burials hold crucial clues, they don’t impart as much information as a preserved skeleton would.
“We cannot tell their age as accurately” from their sandy silhouettes as experts could from a skeleton,Bellissimo said,”but it looks like they were both probably full-grown adults.” The sex of the two pe
The Anglo-Saxon Shore Forts
A network of Roman forts along the eastern and southeastern coasts of Britain were repurposed and maintained by the Anglo-Saxons to defend against Pictish and potentially Scandinavian raids, forming what is known as the Anglo-saxon Shore forts.
These fortifications weren’t newly constructed, but rather existing Roman structures – built during the Roman occupation of Britain – that were adapted for continued military use after the Roman withdrawal in the early 5th century. The purpose was to provide a defensive barrier against attacks from the north and east, particularly from the Picts of Scotland and, later, Viking raiders. The shore forts weren’t a continuous wall like Hadrian’s Wall, but a series of strategically placed strongholds connected by a system of signaling and dialog. They also facilitated trade and maintained kinship ties between communities.
The historian Gildas, writing in the 6th century, describes the Britons’ reliance on these coastal defenses. While he doesn’t explicitly name the “Shore forts,” his account of fortified towns and the need for coastal vigilance aligns with the archaeological evidence. Archaeological excavations at sites like Reculver, richborough, and Walton Castle have revealed Roman-era structures modified with Anglo-saxon additions, confirming their continued use and adaptation.
Extent of the Shore Forts
The Anglo-Saxon Shore forts stretched along approximately 280 miles (450 kilometers) of coastline, encompassing parts of modern-day Kent, Sussex, and Lincolnshire.
The network included over 30 identified sites, though the exact number remains debated among historians. These sites varied in size and importance, ranging from substantial Roman forts like Pevensey Castle to smaller signal stations. The forts weren’t solely defensive; they also served as administrative centers and hubs for local trade. connections extended inland, linking coastal communities with settlements in southeast Britain.
in 1956, archaeologist J.N.L.Myres published “The Anglo-Saxon Shore Forts,” a seminal work that cataloged and analyzed the known sites. Myres identified a core group of forts along the Kentish coast, with extensions northward into Lincolnshire and westward into Sussex.He argued that the Shore forts represented a coordinated defensive effort by the anglo-Saxons and Britons against external threats.
Decline and Abandonment
the Anglo-Saxon Shore forts gradually fell into disuse beginning in the 9th century, as the Viking threat shifted and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms consolidated their power.
the rise of Alfred the Great and the establishment of a more organized Anglo-Saxon army, known as the *burh* system, diminished the strategic importance of the Shore forts. The *burhs* were fortified towns located inland, providing more secure and enduring defenses. Additionally, Viking raids increasingly targeted inland settlements, necessitating a shift in defensive strategy. Some forts were repurposed for other uses, while others were simply abandoned and left to decay.
By the 10th century, many of the shore forts were in ruins. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records instances of Viking attacks on coastal settlements, but increasingly focuses on battles fought inland. For example, the Battle of Edington in 878, a decisive victory for Alfred the Great, took place far from the shore forts, demonstrating the changing focus of Anglo-Saxon military efforts.
