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x-rays reveal intricacies of Anglo-Saxon sword, shield, spear and grave goods

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Equon
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« on: November 26, 2014, 10:42:47 pm »

Army hospital x-rays reveal intricacies of Anglo-Saxon sword, shield, spear and grave goods
By Ben Miller | 24 November 2014


Sixth century grave goods found at Anglo-Saxon burial site scanned by army as archaeologists examine x-rays
A photo of a black and white x-ray scan on a long narrow sword
Archaeologists have enlisted the help of the army to x-ray a sword found in Salisbury during the summer© Wessex Archaeology
Archaeologists have used an army field hospital’s x-ray machine to examine a corroded steel sword, confirming the pattern of the weapon alongside a spearhead and shield core found at a burial site on Salisbury Plain.

The 85 centimetre blade was found with the grave goods at Barrow Clump, a 40-metre cemetery where 27 bodies – including the remains of Anglo-Saxon warriors – were discovered in 2012.

“The sword was too large for our in-house x-ray facilities,” reflects Laura Joyner, of Wessex Archaeology, who says the sword caused “great excitement” at the excavation.

“We were keen to learn as much as possible about this 6th century weapon, although the degree of corrosion on the sword and the fact that it was contained within the remains of its wood and leather scabbard meant that we would need to use an x-ray machine to do so.

“The Army, through Captain Doe and Sergeant Potts, kindly offered to undertake the work using equipment based at a Field Hospital Unit in Aldershot.

“The x-ray images confirmed several things that we suspected about the sword, and revealed some interesting features.

“The sword was made by a process called pattern welding, where several bands of metal are beaten together to create a single strengthened blade.

“In this case, three twisted rods of wrought iron with steel surfaces were used, showing as a distinctive pattern on the x-ray image.

“The blade itself was also edged in steel. This is probably because steel can be sharpened to a much finer edge than iron. It is possible to tell the difference between metals on an x-ray image as they corrode in different ways.”

Experts were equally thrilled at the chance to scan the other grave goods.

“The spearhead is not pattern welded like the sword, but was produced from a single piece of iron,” says Joyner.

“The shield boss has retained its studs to fix it to the wooden shield, which are plated with tin to make them into a decorative feature.”

Conservators will now analyse mineralised wood, leather and organic materials from the scabbard.

    Visit Wessex Archaeology’s news blog for more.

 
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A photo of people carrying out an x-ray scan on a large thin Anglo-Saxon sword
Conservator Lynn Wootten and Phil Andrews, the Project Manager for Barrow Clump, oversaw the scan in Aldershot© Wessex Archaeology
A photo of a black and white x-ray scan on a long narrow sword
The level of corrosion means experts will be unable to remove the scabbard from the blade© Wessex Archaeology
A photo of a black and white x-ray scan on a long narrow sword
Broaches, amber and glass beads, spear heads, a silver ring and drinking vessels have previously been found at Barrow Clump© Wessex Archaeology
A photo of a black and white x-ray scan on a long narrow sword
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Equon
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« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2014, 10:43:46 pm »



Archaeologists have enlisted the help of the army to x-ray a sword found in Salisbury during the summer© Wessex Archaeology
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« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2014, 10:44:33 pm »



Conservator Lynn Wootten and Phil Andrews, the Project Manager for Barrow Clump, oversaw the scan in Aldershot© Wessex Archaeology
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Equon
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« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2014, 10:45:00 pm »



The level of corrosion means experts will be unable to remove the scabbard from the blade
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« Reply #4 on: November 26, 2014, 10:45:32 pm »



Broaches, amber and glass beads, spear heads, a silver ring and drinking vessels have previously been found at Barrow Clump© Wessex Archaeology
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Equon
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« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2014, 10:46:09 pm »



The sword was accompanied by a shield boss - the metal centre of a wooden shield© Wessex Archaeology
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Equon
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« Reply #6 on: November 26, 2014, 10:46:45 pm »

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art507339-army-hospital-x-rays-reveal-intricacies-of-anglo-saxon-sword-shield-spear-and-grave-goods
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« Reply #7 on: November 26, 2014, 10:49:23 pm »


Archaeologists say Anglo-Saxon sword discovery "couldn't have been better scripted"
By Ben Miller | 05 August 2014
Tags:

    Wiltshire
    | excavation
    | dig
    | site
    | fieldwork
    | find
    | discovery
    | All tags

    News
    Comments

X-rays will be carried out on an Anglo-Saxon sword found alongside beads, bodies and more in neolithic Wiltshire
A photo of a colourful circular bead being held within a palm
A good year for beads on Barrow Clump© Wessex Archaeology
Archaeologists have praised the timing and good fortune of a barrow dig on Salisbury Plain which has culminated in the discovery of 13 Anglo-Saxon graves, adding to around 62 already found at the site during previous excavations.

A surprising Anglo-Saxon burial, found in a crouched position, a range of weapons, including spearheads and shield bosses, and the fourth example of a brooch-bearing woman were among the highlights during five weeks of investigations at Barrow Clump, a Neolithic settlement which later became a Bronze Age burial mound and Saxon cemetery,

A photo of a long dark brown Anglo-Saxon sword recovered from a burial clump
Archaeologists were excited to unwrap the sword© Wessex Archaeology
“The finding of the Anglo-Saxon sword, by Steve Winterton, couldn’t have been better scripted,” said Phil Andrews, of Wessex Archaeology, who admitted that this year’s excavations had exceeded his “relatively modest” expectations.

“Perhaps my most satisfying moment was the discovery of Lieutenant Colonel Hawley’s late 19th century excavation trench – something we had failed to find in previous seasons.

"Having a cherry-picker on site on Thursday gave us a chance to see the results of our work from above.

"The final burial was lifted on Friday and all recording completed. The last people left site on Saturday and by the end of Tuesday the excavation trenches had been backfilled and we said our farewells to Barrow Clump.

“It proved to be a very good year for beads, particularly glass, with a range of shapes, sizes and colours found with three of the female burials.

“Barrow Clump has always come up with pleasant surprises, and it is without doubt a site to remember for all the right reasons.”
 
Processing and post-excavation work will continue for the rest of the year, including x-rays of the sword.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.

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Equon
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« Reply #8 on: November 26, 2014, 10:50:30 pm »



A good year for beads on Barrow Clump© Wessex Archaeology
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Equon
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« Reply #9 on: November 26, 2014, 10:51:05 pm »



Archaeologists were excited to unwrap the sword© Wessex Archaeology
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Equon
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« Reply #10 on: November 26, 2014, 10:51:49 pm »

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art493658-Archaeologists-Anglo-Saxon-sword-discovery-have-been-better-scripted-Salisbury
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