Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T00:51:55.771Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

New light on the Anglo-Saxon succession: two cemeteries and their dates

Part of: Anglo-Saxon archaeology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

C.M. Hills  and
T.C. O'Connell
C.M. Hills
Affiliation:
*Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, UK
T.C. O'Connell
Affiliation:
*Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The origin of the English is an interesting problem – and not only for them. In one short century, the evidence from texts, burial, artefacts, stable isotopes and now DNA provides several different answers to the question of whether England was invaded by Germans in the fifth century and if so in what manner. The rigorous approach by our authors tips the balance back in favour of a population changing its cultural allegiance – rather than being physically overwhelmed – but, as they emphasise, any new reading must depend on a very high level of archaeological precision – perhaps only now coming within reach.

Keywords

BritainEnglandRomansAnglo-Saxonsfifth centurymigrationacculturation
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 83 , Issue 322 , December 2009 , pp. 1096 - 1108
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Booth, P. 2001. Late Roman cemeteries in Oxfordshire: a review. Oxoniensia 66: 13–42.Google Scholar
Booth, P., Dodd, A., Robinson, M. & Smith, A.. 2007. The Thames through time: the archaeology of the gravel terraces of the upper and middle Thames: the early historical period, AD 1-1000 (Thames Valley landscapes monograph 27). Oxford: Oxford Archaeology.Google Scholar
Boyle, A., Dodd, A., Miles, D. & Mudd, A. (edited by Jennings, D. & Scott, I.). 1995. Two Oxfordshire Anglo-Saxon cemeteries: Berinsfield and Didcot (Thames Valley landscapes monograph 8). Oxford: Published for the Oxford Archaeological Unit by Oxford University Committee for Archaeology.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1995. Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the OxCal programme. Radiocarbon 40(1): 461–74.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2001. Development of the radiocarbon calibration program OxCal. Radiocarbon 43(2A): 355–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brugmann, B. 2004. Glass beads from early Anglo-Saxon graves. Oxford: Oxbow.Google Scholar
Capelli, C., Redhead, N., Abernethy, J. K., Gratrix, F., Wilson, J. F., Moen, T., Hervig, T., Richards, M., Stumpf, M. P. H., Underhill, P. A., Bradshaw, P., Shaha, A., Thomas, M. G., Bradman, N. & Goldstein, D. B.. 2003. A Y chromosome census of the British Isles. Current Biology 13: 979–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carver, M., Hills, C. & Scheschkewitz, J.. 2009. Wasperton: a Roman, British and Anglo-Saxon community in central England. Woodbridge: Boydell.Google Scholar
Chambers, R. A. 1987. The late- and sub-Roman cemetery at Queenford Farm, Dorchesteron-Thames, Oxon. Oxoniensia 52: 35–69.Google Scholar
Clarke, G. 1979. The Roman cemetery at Lankhills (Winchester Studies 3). Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Durham, B. & Rowley, T.. 1972. A cemetery site at Queenford Mill, Dorchester. Oxoniensia 37: 32–37.Google Scholar
Evison, V. 1977. Supporting-arm brooches and equal-arm brooches in England. Studien zur Sachsenforschung 1: 127–47.Google Scholar
Fuller, B. T., Molleson, T. I., Harris, D. A., Gilmour, L. T. & Hedges, R. E. M.. 2006. Isotopic evidence for breastfeeding and possible adult dietary differences from late/sub-Roman Britain. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 129: 45–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gowland, R. 2007. Beyond ethnicity: symbols of social identity from the fourth to sixth centuries in England, in Semple, S. & Williams, H. (ed.) Anglo-Saxon studies in archaeology and history: early medieval mortuary practices (Anglo-Saxon studies in archaeology and history 14): 56–65. Oxford: University of Oxford, School of Archaeology.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gurney, D. (ed.) 2002. Archaeological finds in Norfolk, 2001. Norfolk Archaeology 44: 149–61.Google Scholar
Hakenbeck, S. 2007. Situational ethnicity and nested identities: new approaches to an old problem, in Semple, S. & Williams, H. (ed.) Anglo-Saxon studies in archaeology and history: early medieval mortuary practices (Anglo-Saxon studies in archaeology and history 14): 19–27. Oxford: University of Oxford, School of Archaeology.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harman, M., Lambrick, G., Miles, D. & Rowley, T.. 1978. Roman burials around Dorchesteron- Thames. Oxoniensia 43: 1–16.Google Scholar
Harman, M., Molleson, T. & Price, J.. 1981. Burials, bodies and beheadings in Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon cemeteries. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (geology) 35(3): 145–88.Google Scholar
Härke, H. 1992 Changing symbols in a changing society: the Anglo-Saxon weapon burial rite in the seventh century, in Carver, M. (ed.) The age of Sutton Hoo: 149–65. Woodbridge: Boydell.Google Scholar
Härke, H. 1995. Weapon burials and knives, in Jennings, D. & Scott, I. (ed.) Two Oxfordshire Anglo-Saxon cemeteries: Berinsfield and Didcot (Thames Valley Landscapes Monograph 8): 67–75. Oxford: Published for the Oxford Archaeological Unit by Oxford University Committee for Archaeology.Google Scholar
Härke, H. 2007. Ethnicity, race and migration in mortuary archaeology: an attempt at a short answer, in Semple, S. & Williams, H. (ed.) Anglo-Saxon studies in archaeology and history: early medieval mortuary practices (Anglo-Saxon studies in archaeology and history 14): 12–18. Oxford: University of Oxford, School of Archaeology.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hawkes, S. 1986. The early Saxon period, in Briggs, G., Cook, J. & Rowley, T. (ed.) The archaeology of the Oxford region: 64–108. Oxford: Oxford University Department for External Studies.Google Scholar
Hearne, C. M. & Birbeck, V.. 1999. A35 Tolpuddle to Puddletown bypass DBFO, Dorset, 1996-8: incorporating excavations at Tolpuddle Ball 1993 (Wessex Archaeology Report 15). Salisbury: Trust for Wessex Archaeology.Google Scholar
Hedges, R.E.M., Clement, J. G., Thomas, C. D. L. & O'Connell, T. C.. 2007. Collagen turnover in the adult femoral mid-shaft: modeled from anthropogenic radiocarbon tracer measurements. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 133(2): 808–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hills, C. M. 2003. Origins of the English. London: Duckworth.Google Scholar
Hills, C. M. 2007. History and archaeology: the state of play in early medieval Europe. Antiquity 81: 191–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirk, J. R. & Leeds, E. T.. 1952–1953. Three early Saxon graves from Dorchester, Oxon. Oxoniensia 17–18: 63–76.Google Scholar
Privat, K., O'Connell, T. C. & Richards, M. P.. 2002. Stable isotope analysis of human and faunal remains from the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Berinsfield, Oxfordshire: dietary and social implications. Journal of Archaeological Science 29: 779–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rahtz, P., Hirst, S. & Wright, S.. 2000. Cannington cemetery (Britannia monograph 17). London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies.Google Scholar
Reimer, P. J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J. W., Bertrand, C.J.H., Blackwell, P. G., Buck, C. E., Burr, G. S., Cutler, K. B., Damon, P. E., Edwards, R. L., Fairbanks, R. G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T. P., Hogg, A. G., Hughen, K. A., Kromer, B., Mccormac, G., Manning, S., Ramsey, C. Bronk, Reimer, R. W., Remmele, S., Southon, J. R., Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F. W., Van Der Plicht, J. & Weyhenmeyer, C. E.. 2004. IntCal04 terrestrial radiocarbon age calibration, 0-26 cal kyr BP. Radiocarbon 46(3): 1029–58.Google Scholar
Sayer, D. 2007. Drei südenglische Gräberfelder aus angelsächsischer Zeit und ihre Organisation, in Grunewald, C. & Capelle, T. (ed.) Innere Strukturen von Siedlungen und Gräberfeldern als Spiegel gesellschaftlicher Wirklichkeit?: Akten des 57. Internationalen Sachsensymposions vom 26 bis 30 August 2006 in Münster (Veröffentlichungen der Altertumskommission für Westfalen, Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe 17): 79–88. Munster: Aschendorff.Google Scholar
Scull, C. & Bayliss, A.. 1999. Radiocarbon dating and Anglo-Saxon graves, in von Freeden, U., Koch, U. & Wieczorek, A. (ed.) Völker an Nord- und Ostsee und die Franken: Akten des 48. Sachsensymposiums in Mannheim vom 7 bis 11 September 1997 (Mannheimer Geschichtsblätter. Beiheft 2. Neue Folge): 39–50. Bonn: Rudolf Habelt.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M., Reimer, P. J. & Reimer, R.. 2005. CALIB radiocarbon calibration. Available at http://calib.qub.ac.uk/calib/ (last accessed on 3 December 2008).Google Scholar
Thomas, M., Stumpf, M. & Härke, H.. 2006. Evidence for apartheid-like social structure in early Anglo-Saxon England. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: 1–7.Google Scholar
Weale, M., Weiss, D., Jager, R., Bradman, N. & Thomas, M.. 2002. Y chromosome evidence for Anglo-Saxon mass migration. Molecular Biology and Evolution 19: 1008–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed