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ANGLO-SAXON OXFORDSHIRE
THE ANGLO-SAXON FINDS FROM PURWELL FARM, CASSINGTON
In 1941, at a site immediately south of Purwell Farm, gravel diggers uncovered thirteen graves. Various finds from these graves were acquired by the Ashmolean Museum.
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Saucer brooch and fragment of a shield boss found in 1941 at Purwell Farm, Cassington |
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The Oxford University Archaeological Society (OUAS) with E.T. Leeds excavated a further eight graves during the following year. The graves contained four men (graves 1,3,4 & 5), two women (graves 2 & 7) and two children (graves 6 and 8). Four of the burials appeared to be stone lined.
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E.T. Leeds at the excavation at Cassington 1941-42 |
Finds from the graves included a number of knives, shield bosses and spearheads, which are usually associated with male graves, alongside brooches, beads, a needlecase and an ivory purse ring, associated with female graves. Pottery sherds were also found amongst the burials. The finds from this excavation are held by the Ashmolean Museum.
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Finds from the grave of a young woman (grave 2) |
Subsequent excavations in 1957 and 1958 by E.M. Jope discovered the floors of two groups of Anglo-Saxon sunken-featured buildings and at least two kilns. A saucer brooch and skeleton were found in the vicinity of the buildings. It appears that one or two Anglo-Saxon settlements existed on this site. The finds suggest a date of between the sixth and seventh centuries for this settlement.
The finds from these later excavations are held by the Oxfordshire Museums Service.
REFERENCES:
E.T.Leeds and M. Riley (1942) "Two Early Saxon Cemeteries at Cassington, Oxon", Oxoniensia 7, p62-70.
A. MacGregor and E. Bolick (1993) Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non- Ferrous Metals), BAR British Series 230.
