Land South of Burwell Road, Exning, Suffolk

During October and November 2014, Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) carried out an archaeological excavation at land south of Burwell Road, Exning, Suffolk. A previous trial trench evaluation of the site indicated that there was a potential for Roman and medieval archaeology to be present within the site and the principal research aims of the project were associated with remains of this date. During excavation, however, an Anglo-Saxon cemetery was recorded comprising 20 graves containing the skeletal remains of 21 individuals. Small scale Roman and pre-Roman archaeology was also recorded, including a ring-ditch which potentially represents the remains of a barrow monument. The most significant aspect of the site was the Anglo-Saxon burial ground identified in the north-western part of the excavated area. This cemetery consisted of 20 graves containing 21 inhumations. Dating evidence suggests that the cemetery was in use during the 7th century; this coincides approximately with the life of St Æthelthryth (c. 630-679) who founded Ely Abbey, was the daughter of King Anna of East Anglia, and who was born at Exning. Grave goods present with several of the burials in the cemetery recorded here were indicative of high status, providing the first physical evidence recorded in Exning of a rich and powerful population as suggested by the story of St Æthelthryth. Of further note is the similarity of the richest grave at this site, that of a young girl, with a grave recorded at a cemetery on the Isle of Ely which is considered to have had links with the religious community there.