About this special feature
In October 2003 the Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) began an archaeological investigation at Prittlewell in south-east Essex. The work was part of a proposed road improvement on the site of a known Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Within a short time the archaeologists had discovered a burial that was clearly extraordinary. The size of the grave and the quality and quantity of the objects buried there, left little doubt that this was a rare example of a princely burial of the 7th century AD. The fact that the grave was previously undisturbed made it even more significant. It is arguably the most important Anglo-Saxon burial found since the 1939 discovery of the great ship burial at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk.
The discoveries continue
Laboratory work on the excavated material continues to shed light on the burial, including revealing previously unrecognised finds like an iron lamp
Publication
We are pleased to offer a 44 page booklet, 'The Prittlewell prince: the discovery of a rich Anglo-Saxon burial in Essex'. Abundantly illustrated in colour, the text describes the background, discovery, excavation, finds and preliminary interpretation of this 7th-century AD burial, and was published to accompany an exhibition at the Museum in Docklands in July and August 2004
To purchase a copy for £3.95 plus P&P, please contact Gary Warr.
Location and dates of dig
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View of the site during excavation
The Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Prittlewell is located on the northern outskirts of Southend, in south-east Essex. The site is on rising ground to the east of the Prittle Brook, a stream which flows into the Roach estuary c 2.5km to the north. The area is known to have been inhabited since prehistoric times. Because of the potential for archaeological discoveries here, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council asked MoLAS to carry out a preliminary evaluation ahead of a potential road-widening scheme. The results were far more startling than anyone could have predicted.
MoLAS carried out its evaluation in nine weeks between the 22nd October and the 23rd December 2003. Three trenches were opened up, the largest of which was c 20m x 7m. Geophysical investigation (comprising both magnetometer and resistivity surveys by Stratascan) was conducted on the remainder of the site - or at least those parts that didn't have trees and shrubs!
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The team was led by MoLAS Senior Archaeologist, Ian Blair, and comprised archaeologists, surveyors, photographers and conservators.
Many of the objects uncovered were so delicate or ephemeral they had to be lifted by Museum of London Specialist Services conservators in a block with the soil surrounding them), and are still being `excavatedý off-site in the conservation laboratories of the Museum of London. This conservation work was funded by English Heritage. Over the next few months there are, therefore, probably more exciting discoveries to be made, as previously unintelligible fragments, stains and marks are exposed and made sense of.
Previous archaeological work
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During the building of the London to Southend railway line in the 1880s, of Priory Crescent in 1923 and of a railway cutting in 1930 workmen uncovered evidence of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery as well as evidence for earlier Roman burials. The 1923 excavations identified 16 certain and 11 possible Anglo-Saxon graves and some unstratified finds suggesting further burials. The presence of only three female grave groups compared with some 19 possible male weapon groups (including six swords) is striking and may suggest a cemetery with areas segregated by gender. The objects found suggested that the cemetery was in use between AD 500–700. Nothing, however, suggested the likely burial of a man of such power and wealth as is now revealed.
The site
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Excavating the site
Traces of only three probable Anglo-Saxon flat graves were found in the excavation, two with no finds and one a weapon burial. But the discovery at the south end of the site of an intact chamber grave, apparently originally covered by a burial mound, dramatically changed the archaeological status of this site. The size of the burial chamber and the quality and quantity of the accompanying grave goods can leave little doubt that this was a rare example of a 7th-century princely burial. The fact that the burial was undisturbed and excavated under modern excavation conditions increases its significance and the burial is undoubtedly of national and international importance. The only other excavated example of an intact princely burial is the Sutton Hoo Mound 1 burial, in a chamber constructed in a buried ship.
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Artist's reconstruction of the chamber grave at the time of burial
The Prittlewell burial chamber comprised a rectangular hole dug into the ground whose Åwallsý were lined with upright timbers. A plank roof covered the chamber and the whole was sealed under a substantial mound of sandy earth forming a barrow. Over time sand leaked through the cracks, and at some point the roof timbers decayed and the mound collapsed into the chamber, completely sealing the burial and the grave goods. The high acidity of the sand filling the burial chamber meant that no trace of a body survived but objects in the chamber, such as the sword and the shoe buckles, tell us it was almost certainly that of a man. The estimated size of the largely destroyed mound (10m diameter) puts it at the lower end of the range in scale but the chamber at c 4m square and c 1.5m deep is exceptionally large even by European standards.
Inside the burial chamber weapons, equipment for feasting and other valued personal possessions were found carefully arranged around the body, with various items still hanging on iron hooks in the timber-revetted walls. The body was laid out on a wooden structure, a bed or coffin, with objects that had been placed on the body as part of the burial ritual. These included two small gold foil crosses, two gold coins, a gold belt buckle and shoe buckles.
Special resources
On-site video: finds including copper vessels and the north and east faces of the chamber. MOV format, 6.1mb
On-site video: finds including the folding stool in the west face of the chamber. MOV format, 3.6mb
Panoramic view of the site QTVR format, 500kb
Format and requirements: If you do not have the plug-in please visit http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/ to download the plug-in for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, Mac OS X or Mac OS 8.6/9.)
The finds
The finds: Gifts or trade?
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Excavating the folding stool
The objects found in the chamber were made in a number of different countries. Of those examined so far, the most exotic objects appear to be the flagon and bowl from the eastern Mediterranean area. The folding stool is probably from either Italy or the area which is now modern Slovakia/Hungary while the gold coins were minted in Merovingian France. Two gold-foil crosses in the burial are a unique find for Britain, although well-attested in certain areas of the Continent, and suggest connections with Italy which might well be in the context of the historically documented activity of the Roman (ie Augustinian and succeeding) missionaries in early 7th-century south-east England.
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By contrast, the gold belt buckle is of Continental style but was probably made in Kent. The decoration of the wooden drinking vessels is Scandinavian in style, although they too were probably made in England. Hanging bowls (about which more information is forthcoming) are generally thought to have been made in Ireland or in northern England, and the glass vessels are English, possibly from Kent.
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The presence of `foreign´ objects in the grave does not necessarily suggest direct or continuous trade links between these countries and Saxon Essex - many of the items could have been received as individual gifts by the `king´ himself.
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The finds: Gold belt buckle
) Gold buckle found at the site |
) Excavation of the buckle |
This is a complete belt buckle of so-called `shield-on-tongue´ type, with a triangular buckle plate and the back secured to the front by three rivets with decorative boss mounts on the front face. The buckle is not solid but hollow and may have functioned as a (Christian?) reliquary, containing perhaps a fragment of bone or textile.
The buckle is in a Continental style that was also copied in Kent; it could, therefore, have been an import, but was more likely to have been made in England. Buckles of this type were most popular in AD 600—640. There are only two other examples of 7th-century gold belt buckles from burials in England, the others being at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, and Taplow, Bucks.
3D reconstruction of the gold buckle (embedded java, 475kb)
The finds: Gold coins
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A Merovingian gold tremissis of the moneyer Ioannes (John) of Cadolidi or Capolidi, probably early 7th century in date. The front shows a very crude bust with a diadem, probably facing left. The back shows an unusual cross, probably derived from a Byzantine 'cross-on-steps' design. Although very little of the inscription can be read, it can be identified from its similarity to another coin, now in Paris. The location of Cadolidi/ Capolidi is uncertain.
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A Merovingian gold tremissis of the moneyer Vitalis of Paris, dating to the late -6th or early -7th century. The inscription on the front tells us that the coin was issued in Paris. The back gives the name of the moneyer, although part of the inscription is missing. The front shows a bust with a diadem facing right, and the back shows a cross amcrée, possibly over a globe. The coin belongs to a series that was in use from AD c.570/580-c.670; more precise dating will depend on testing the purity of the gold.
At Sutton Hoo, 37 Merovingian coins were found, the latest of which dated to the 620s.
The finds: Coptic bowl
) Excavating the bowl |
) The coptic bowl |
A large undecorated bronze bowl with footring and opposed handles. Bowls of this type are from the same general source as the flagon, and much more common. The main focus of their distribution in England is in East Anglia and Kent, where they can be dated to the first half of the 7th century. Similar bowls were used in the high-status burials at Taplow (Bucks) and Sutton Hoo (Suffolk). This is the first known example from Essex.
The finds: Flagon
) Excavation of the flagon |
) One of the medallions on the flagon |
A cast bronze flagon of carinated form with a slightly convex base and a lid that is secured to the ornate handle by a chain. The handle was made separately and the upper part of the handle is secured to the neck by a plain band. The lower part of the handle is fastened by a second band, the central part of which has three embossed medallions containing a figure, possibly a saint, on a horse that faces to the left. The ends taper to form wires that extend to the handle and are twisted around it (now damaged). Vessels of this type were made at unidentified centres in the eastern Mediterranean area between the 6th and 9th centuries. They were widely exported. Similar vessels are known from Persia, Turkestan, Tunisia, Germany and Sweden, the largest collection being from Sardis, near Corinth in Greece. This is the first example of its type from England.
3D reconstruction of the flagon (embedded java, 475kb)
The finds: Two gold foil crosses
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The two gold foil crosses
Two tiny Latin crosses (length c 30mm) with rounded terminals to the shorter arms and scored marks on the flatter example showing where the foil was to be cut to shape. These are the first such gold crosses to be found in England. The tradition of placing gold foil crosses in graves, which probably symbolises allegiance to Christianity, originated in Lombardic Italy, but they were equally popular in Alamannia (more or less modern Bavaria). The fashion lasted from the late 6th to early 8th centuries but was at its peak in AD c.570—650. Crosses were probably custom-made before the burial ceremony. Most have tiny perforations which would allow them to be sewn onto clothing, but here they are quite plain and must have simply been laid on the body after it had been placed in the coffin or bed.
The finds: Glass vessels
) The two blue glass vessels |
) The two green glass vessels |
) The glass vessels in situ |
These squat blue jars/beakers are decorated with an applied floral design (seven petals) on the base and plaitwork with three overlapping wavy lines around the body. The jars are exactly paralleled at Broomfield princely burial in Essex and at Aylesford in Kent, where pairs of vessels were also found. It is likely that all were made by the same craftsman.
These green jars have a single trail that creates six petals around the base/lower body and a spiral around the neck. Similar jars are known from Faversham (Kent). The glass was almost certainly made in England, possibly in Kent. Most English finds of similar squat jars seem to be from 7th-century contexts, but earlier examples are known from Norway, and a general dating of AD 580—630 is accepted for the type.
3D reconstruction of one of the blue vases (embedded java, 475kb)
The finds: Silver spoon
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In addition to the Coptic bowls and the flagon, yet another Byzantine object has now been revealed. This is a silver spoon with elongated handle and ovoid bowl that was buried with a few other objects inside a probable box. Such spoons are extremely rare in burials of this date, and usually occur singly – the only known finds from England are a pair from Sutton Hoo. This in itself is exciting but that fact that the Prittlewell spoon has an inscription scratched inside the bowl makes it unique.
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The inscription is quite different from the clearly defined lettering in the Roman alphabet on the handles of the Sutton Hoo spoons. It is extremely faint, and difficult to disentangle from other accidental scratches, but comprises two lines of characters below a cross. At first sight the text appeared to be runic, but a preliminary closer inspection suggests that the characters may be Roman, and that letters are discernable.
The iconography and symbolic association of the spoon, which may have been a baptismal gift or used in communion rites, add further support to the evidence that the Prittlewell `king´ was a Christian
This web page will be up-dated as we learn more from specialists in the field, but it may be that a complete reading will never be possible.
The finds: Lyre
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The remains of the lyre
When discovered, the lyre, which is of Sutton Hoo type, was just a dark patch on the ground. Nevertheless the outline is complete - the first time we have ever seen this in Britain (even at Sutton Hoo only the top half survived).
The soil-block is currently being studied, prior to excavation, using X-ray and other techniques. Images already show a complicated structure, with metal fittings of a kind familiar from other lyre finds of the period – and also some unfamiliar ones – undisturbed in their original positions. Parts of the wooden frame may survive. Special techniques will reveal much new scientific evidence about the materials used in making and finishing it. Other finds from sites such as Sutton Hoo, Snape, Morning Thorpe, Bergh Apton and Deal allow us to predict that it would have had six strings, probably of gut, and a wrist-strap. It may have been buried in a bag or case.
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Reconstruction of the possible form of the lyre. Drawing by Graeme Lawson
Lyres were culturally very important to the Anglo-Saxons and their Continental neighbours. They provided the essential musical accompaniment to their heroic verse, and the man himself would have been able to strum it while retelling old stories to his people, like Danish king Hrothgar in the poem Beowulf. The lyre may also have symbolised his role as patron of poets and musicians. So the find will help us understand Old English poetry as well as music.
We are grateful to Dr Graeme Lawson for these comments; this web page will be up-dated as the investigation of the instrument proceeds and we learn more from him and other specialists in the field.
Click on a highlighted area to see it enhanced
The finds: Discoveries in the lab
Conservation and excavation in the laboratory, together with other investigations, have adding greatly to our understanding of many of the items from the chamber grave, and have even revealed a number of previously unsuspected finds within blocks of sediment or inside other items.
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The iron lamp, found beneath a cauldron at the side of the chamber grave
Laboratory investigation of a block of soil in which the cauldron was lifted has revealed an iron lamp, for which there are two parallels known from Anglo-Saxon Britain. The bowl of the lamp, 15cm across, was found separated from the stem underneath it, and contained a yellow concretion. A similar lamp found at Sutton Hoo contained beeswax.
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Gilt rim of a drinking horn
A large number of drinking vessels left in the grave included horns and wooden flasks, which had ornate gilt rims.
A stave-built iron-bound bucket, of a well-known Anglo-Saxon form was found to contain a copper bowl and the head of a scythe.
) Outside view of the bucket |
) View into the bucket, showing the copper bowl and scythe blade before removal |
A group of bone gaming pieces and a dice have been cleaned and conserved, and appear to comprise a near-complete set.
) Bone gaming pieces |
) The dice undergoing conservation |
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Laser scanning of the surface of the block of sediment containing the lyre
Other investigations continue, with the 3D laser scanning of the surface of the lyre, to compliment the CT scanning and provide a thorough record before the delicate process of excavation proceeds. Conservation of a box has revealed traces of fabrics, whilst x-ray investigations suggest the presence of gold thread.
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Early conclusions - who was it?
Many months of careful work are still required to decode the clues to the identity of the grave's occupant. Although the burial follows non-Christian traditions in the richness of the accompanying burial goods, there are several objects with specifically Christian associations. The clearest of these are the two gold foil crosses which had been laid on the body.
The first of the East Saxon kings to convert to Christianity is reputed to be Sabert through the intervention of his uncle, King Aethelbert of Kent, in AD 604. However, following his death in AD 616, his sons expelled the Christian missionaries, as part of a revolt against Kentish domination, and returned to their traditional pagan ways. It was not until AD 653 that his grandson Sigeberht `Sanctus´ was persuaded to adopt Christianity by Northumbrian missionaries under St Cedd.
Thanks to...
The excavations in 2003 at Priory Crescent, Prittlewell, were commissioned and financed by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.
MoLAS is very grateful to colleagues at English Heritage, Atkins, Atkins Heritage, the British Museum and the Institute of Archaeology for the help in the study of the Prittlewell finds.
