Anglo-Saxon site will be unearthedJennie Baker
HIDDEN SECRETS: Oakington recreation ground, laid out over an old burial site
New archaeological digs are to take place at the site of an Anglo-Saxon burial ground in Oakington.
The village sits on the site of a sixth-century settlement described as “one of the most significant archaeological sites you could have”.
Two digs will take place later this year.
Archaeology students, led by Dr Duncan Sayer, a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Central Lancaster, will undertake a two-day excavation on April 12 and 13.
The team will add several test pits to the network of 39 dug around the village since 2008, mostly in the gardens of people living to the north of the church.
Dr Sayer said: “We are trying to establish where the origin of the village was, the earliest Saxon settlement and how it developed and spread across what is modern Oakington today.”
A month-long dig will then take place during June and July on Oakington recreation ground, which Dr Sayer hopes could lead to the discovery of graves from the early medieval settlement.
He said: “It’s a really exciting project. I’m really looking forward to it. What I really like about it is we have got the local community on side.”
Richard Mortimer, of Oxford Archaeology East, who is involved in the project, has discussed the dig with the producers of the BBC Two programme Digging for Britain and students from America may be joining in.
The replacement of Oakington playground’s concrete base with woodchips in 1994 led to the discovery of 26 skeletons on the sixth century burial ground.
One grisly discovery was the body of a small child at the foot of the slide.
Among those who have worked on the site is Stephen Macaulay, formerly of Cambridgeshire County Council’s archaeology field unit.
He said: “The recreation ground, and in particular the play area, is right on the top of one of the most significant archaeological sites you could have. There are still large parts of it underneath the swings and roundabouts.”
Excavation work had to be done in 2007 before building of the new sports pavilion and all-weather sports pitch could start, leading to the discovery of a further 17 graves, mostly women and children, as well as a multitude of artefacts, including brooches, beads, buckles and knives.
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