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| ‘Really incredible’ sixth-century sword found in Kent | ‘Really incredible’ sixth-century sword found in Kent |
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| Exclusive: Sword is among striking objects unearthed from Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Canterbury | Exclusive: Sword is among striking objects unearthed from Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Canterbury |
| A spectacular sixth-century sword has been unearthed from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in rural Kent, to the astonishment of archaeologists. | A spectacular sixth-century sword has been unearthed from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in rural Kent, to the astonishment of archaeologists. |
| The weapon is in an exceptional state of preservation and is being likened to the sword found at Sutton Hoo, the Anglo-Saxon burial in Suffolk. | The weapon is in an exceptional state of preservation and is being likened to the sword found at Sutton Hoo, the Anglo-Saxon burial in Suffolk. |
| It has a silver-and-gilt hilt, with a decorative pattern in fine craftsmanship, and a blade bearing a runic script. Even elements of its leather-and-wood scabbard and the beaver fur that lined it have also survived. Attached to its pommel is a ring, perhaps symbolising an oath to a king or another high-status individual. | It has a silver-and-gilt hilt, with a decorative pattern in fine craftsmanship, and a blade bearing a runic script. Even elements of its leather-and-wood scabbard and the beaver fur that lined it have also survived. Attached to its pommel is a ring, perhaps symbolising an oath to a king or another high-status individual. |
| The sword is among striking objects that have been unearthed from an early medieval cemetery near Canterbury, whose precise location is not being identified as further excavations are planned. | The sword is among striking objects that have been unearthed from an early medieval cemetery near Canterbury, whose precise location is not being identified as further excavations are planned. |
| Twelve burials have been excavated so far and there are thought to be 200 more, which will take years to explore. They date from the fifth and sixth centuries. | Twelve burials have been excavated so far and there are thought to be 200 more, which will take years to explore. They date from the fifth and sixth centuries. |
| Duncan Sayer, the lead archaeologist and professor of archaeology at the University of Central Lancashire, told the Guardian: “We’re keeping the name of the site under wraps. It’s a very rich cemetery. It would be a real tragedy if it became well known before we’ve excavated it.” | Duncan Sayer, the lead archaeologist and professor of archaeology at the University of Central Lancashire, told the Guardian: “We’re keeping the name of the site under wraps. It’s a very rich cemetery. It would be a real tragedy if it became well known before we’ve excavated it.” |
| He said of the sword: “It’s really incredible, in the top echelons of swords, an elite object in every way, which is wonderful. It rivals the swords from Dover and from Sutton Hoo.” | He said of the sword: “It’s really incredible, in the top echelons of swords, an elite object in every way, which is wonderful. It rivals the swords from Dover and from Sutton Hoo.” |
| Buried in the same grave was a gold pendant, inscribed with a serpent or dragon. As such pendants would have been worn by high-status women, it is thought to have been a treasured keepsake from a female relative or ancestor. | Buried in the same grave was a gold pendant, inscribed with a serpent or dragon. As such pendants would have been worn by high-status women, it is thought to have been a treasured keepsake from a female relative or ancestor. |
| All the male graves have weapons such as spears and shields. All the female graves have knives, as well as broaches and buckles, among other objects. | All the male graves have weapons such as spears and shields. All the female graves have knives, as well as broaches and buckles, among other objects. |
| The discoveries will feature in BBC Two’s forthcoming six-part Digging for Britain series, which shows that an untouched Anglo-Saxon cemetery is now “giving up its secrets”. | The discoveries will feature in BBC Two’s forthcoming six-part Digging for Britain series, which shows that an untouched Anglo-Saxon cemetery is now “giving up its secrets”. |
| The sword is described as one of the most remarkable finds ever seen on Digging for Britain, now into its 12th series. | The sword is described as one of the most remarkable finds ever seen on Digging for Britain, now into its 12th series. |
| Prof Alice Roberts, an academic who presents the documentaries, told the Guardian: “I’ve never seen one that’s so beautifully preserved.” | Prof Alice Roberts, an academic who presents the documentaries, told the Guardian: “I’ve never seen one that’s so beautifully preserved.” |
| She said: “It’s an extraordinary Anglo-Saxon cemetery, with really beautifully furnished graves, a lot of weapon burials where you find things like iron spear-points and seaxes, which are Anglo-Saxon knives – and then there’s this astonishing sword.” | She said: “It’s an extraordinary Anglo-Saxon cemetery, with really beautifully furnished graves, a lot of weapon burials where you find things like iron spear-points and seaxes, which are Anglo-Saxon knives – and then there’s this astonishing sword.” |
| She spoke of the potential to discover new insights into life at that time: “We have fairly sparse historical sources when it comes to this period, which used to be called the dark ages. We don’t have much in the way of contemporary writing.” | She spoke of the potential to discover new insights into life at that time: “We have fairly sparse historical sources when it comes to this period, which used to be called the dark ages. We don’t have much in the way of contemporary writing.” |
| A microscope used by the conservator Dana Goodburn-Brown can magnify details on the sword more than 10 times and reveal hidden clues about the burial practices of this Kentish community. | A microscope used by the conservator Dana Goodburn-Brown can magnify details on the sword more than 10 times and reveal hidden clues about the burial practices of this Kentish community. |
| She has, for example, found fly pupae on the sword, which means that the body was not immediately covered before being buried, perhaps giving loved ones time to say their goodbyes. “So we’re learning something about the funerary practices,” she says in the programme. | |
| One of the graves belonged to a woman buried in the later fifth century with objects that had originated in Scandinavia. Some of the later sixth-century graves have artefacts of a Frankish origin. | One of the graves belonged to a woman buried in the later fifth century with objects that had originated in Scandinavia. Some of the later sixth-century graves have artefacts of a Frankish origin. |
| Sayer said: “So we can really see the change in the political landscape within Kent in this site in the fifth and sixth centuries.” | Sayer said: “So we can really see the change in the political landscape within Kent in this site in the fifth and sixth centuries.” |
| The excavation is part of a bigger project. A study of 300 early Anglo-Saxons from across the east coast of Britain found that about 75% of the DNA was from continental northern Europe – “a significant migration event after the Roman administration stopped in Britain”, Sayer said. | The excavation is part of a bigger project. A study of 300 early Anglo-Saxons from across the east coast of Britain found that about 75% of the DNA was from continental northern Europe – “a significant migration event after the Roman administration stopped in Britain”, Sayer said. |
| He added: “Before we published those results, there was still quite a lot of conversation about whether there really was a significant migration. Now it’s absolutely definite that there has to have been a very significant influx, especially in the east coast taking place over generations. They’re not coming from one place, but multiple places. This cemetery is right at the cutting-edge of that work.” | He added: “Before we published those results, there was still quite a lot of conversation about whether there really was a significant migration. Now it’s absolutely definite that there has to have been a very significant influx, especially in the east coast taking place over generations. They’re not coming from one place, but multiple places. This cemetery is right at the cutting-edge of that work.” |
| The sword and other finds will undergo a lengthy process of conservation. Eventually they will go to the Folkestone Museum. | The sword and other finds will undergo a lengthy process of conservation. Eventually they will go to the Folkestone Museum. |
| Digging for Britain begins on 7 January at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. | Digging for Britain begins on 7 January at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. |