Gb: medieval cemetery under Cambridge, 'discovery of the century'

2021-01-31T08:14:00.519Z

The demolition of an old Cambridge student house has unearthed a vast cemetery dating back to the early Middle Ages described as "one of the most important Anglo-Saxon archaeological finds since the nineteenth century". In the area 60 tombs and 200 artifacts have been found, including bronze bracelets, necklaces, swords, daggers, terracotta containers and glass flasks. Most of the findings date back to the early Anglo-Saxon period between the fifth and seventh centuries AD, but the remains of some structures date back to the Iron Age and Roman times. According to the 'Guardian', it is the "discovery of the century" in British archeology. Caroline Goodson, a professor of medieval history at King's College, stressed the excellent state of conservation of the skeletons, due to the alkaline soil that prevented the decomposition of the bones. Scientists will thus have the opportunity to use the most modern techniques to study the DNA of the deceased and discover their diet. Goodson then expressed "surprise" at the discovery of so many medieval tombs near the ancient Roman settlement of Cambridge, which had been abandoned in the fifth century AD.