Royal burial ground unearthed » Environment » 24dash.com

A royal Anglo-Saxon burial ground and some of the finest gold jewellery ever unearthed in the country has been discovered by a freelance archaeologist.

The 109-grave cemetery is arranged in a rectangular pattern and dates from the middle of the 7th Century.

The cemetery, bed burial and high status objects are considered to all indicate the people buried must have connections with Anglo-Saxon royalty.

Traditionally, Anglo Saxon royalty were always buried in the south of England and it is thought the royals buried at the Cleveland site could be linked to the Kentish Princess Ethelburga who travelled north to marry Edwin, King of Northumbria.

It was unearthed by freelance archaeologist Steve Sherlock after he studied an aerial photograph of land in East Cleveland, near Redcar.

The site is being kept secret but its contents are due to go on public display at a local museum.

The excavations, which began in 2005 and continued under Steve's supervision with help from Tees Archaeology and local volunteers, working four-six weeks every summer, have covered an area the size of half a football pitch near Loftus discovering a cemetery of 109 burials.

Mr Sherlock, an archaeologist since 1979, said: "Whilst human bone does not survive because of the acidic soils, a range of high status jewellery was found, including glass beads, pottery, iron knives and belt buckles.

"Five of the graves had gold and silver brooches and a further burial had a seax, a type of Anglo-Saxon sword."

"One burial had been placed upon a bed with the lady dressed wearing three gold brooches, one of which is unparalleled in Anglo-Saxon England.

"Quite who this person was we may never know, but we can say she was alive at the time St Hilda was establishing the monastery at Whitby.

"Preliminary analysis of the finest brooch suggests it was made with Merovingian gold, indicating possible continental links.

"The other brooches are all thought to have originated in Kent and so it is clear the people buried near Loftus had access to the best craftsworkers in Anglo-Saxon England."

Tees Archaeology officer, Robin Daniels, said: "This is the only known Anglo Saxon royal burial site in the North of England.

"It is the most dramatic find of Anglo Saxon material for generations."

The Teesside coroner needs to conduct an inquest to confirm the 'treasure' definition and the finds will then be valued by a panel of experts from the British Museum.

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Sheelagh Clarke, said: "This is a fantastic discovery.

"I'm so looking forward to seeing it on show in the museum.

"It will be a superb attraction."

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