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The Eslington Sword and the Kingdom of Northumbria

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Rob CollinsORCiD, Professor Sam Turner

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Abstract

NEW DISCOVERIES may indicate the location of a previously unknown early medieval burial ground incentral Northumberland. Objects discovered during the course of metal-detecting include an assemblage witha folded, pattern-welded sword and zoomorphic shield mount. Excavation indicated near total destruction ofdeposits as a result of post-medieval land-use and only Bronze-Age burials inserted into bedrock remainedintact. Three putative early medieval burials are identified here, with the largest assemblage associated witha high-status male. The sword and shield mount from this assemblage are comparable with finds from high statusburials in southern and eastern England. Together with the landscape context of the site, the assemblageprovides evidence for the burial practices of an emerging Northumbrian elite in the late 6th century AD.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Collins R, Turner S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Medieval Archaeology

Year: 2018

Volume: 62

Issue: 1

Pages: 28-52

Online publication date: 22/06/2018

Acceptance date: 03/05/2018

Date deposited: 10/04/2017

ISSN (print): 0076-6097

ISSN (electronic): 1745-817X

Publisher: Taylor and Francis

URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00766097.2018.1451473

DOI: 10.1080/00766097.2018.1451473

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