Shrubland Hall Anglo-Saxon cemetery facts for kids

The Shrubland Hall Anglo-Saxon cemetery is an old burial site. It was found near Coddenham, Suffolk, in England. This cemetery dates back to the 600s, which is the 7th century. It belonged to the Anglo-Saxons, who lived in England a long time ago.

Archaeologists discovered this important site in 1999. It contains about fifty graves. Some of these graves are very special. They belonged to important people from that time.

What Was Found at Shrubland Hall?

This cemetery is famous for some amazing discoveries. One of the most exciting finds was a unique "bed burial." This type of grave is very rare.

What is a Bed Burial?

A bed burial is a special way some Anglo-Saxon women were buried. The woman's body was placed on a fancy wooden bed. This bed was often decorated. Along with the bed, she usually had jewelry buried with her.

These burials are very important to archaeologists. They help us learn about how people lived and died. Only 13 bed burials have ever been found in the whole United Kingdom. The one at Shrubland Hall is thought to be the most complex Anglo-Saxon bed ever found.

Special Graves in Wooden Chambers

The bed burial was found inside a wooden room or chamber. This made the grave even more special. Another grave at the cemetery was also found in a wooden chamber. This second chamber held the skeleton of a man.

The man's grave contained several items. These items are called "grave goods." They included a seax (a type of knife), a spear, and a shield. There was also an iron-bound wooden bucket. A copper alloy bowl and a drinking horn were found too. These items tell us about the man's life and status.

How Was the Cemetery Discovered?

The Shrubland Hall cemetery was found by accident. It happened in 1999 during some digging work. This work was done by the Suffolk County Council's Archaeology Service. They were checking the area before a quarry started digging for gravel.

What Else Was Found Nearby?

Before this discovery, archaeologists knew the area was interesting. They had already found signs of other ancient activities. These included evidence from the Iron Age and the Roman times. This shows that people have lived in this area for thousands of years.