Saxon grave unearthed

SECRETS of the Dark Ages have been uncovered by archaeologists working on an early Saxon burial ground close to Lewes.

The site was discovered a month ago by metal detector enthusiasts who dug up two swords, a spear and brooches.

Realising the importance of the finds, they immediately reported their existence to the authorities.

Martin Brown from East Sussex County Council, and Gabor Thomas of the Sussex Archaeological Society, quickly moved in with volunteers and uncovered five Anglo-Saxon burials from the Sixth Century.

Among the volunteers was Geoff Isted, one of the men who made the original find.

It was Geoff s first experience of a dig but he was a great help in finding graves and pinpointing objects using his metal detector, said Martin Brown.

The five burials, cut into the chalk, contain the remains of three women and two men. They face east-west in the Christian manner but the presence of high quality grave goods also suggests a pagan background.

The graves are thought to be from the edge of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery removed by road builders in the Nineteenth Century.

I was amazed when I saw the finds. They are ornate and really good quality, added Mr Brown. The five died naturally and all, judging by their teeth, were more than 40 years old.

The presence of swords and high-quality brooches suggests that they were important local people whose status was reflected in the posessions they took to the grave.

The objects will go the Barbican House Museum in Lewes for display while the bones will be studied before re-burial where they were found.

Exavation work has stopped but a survey of the surrounding area will be carried out.