The Saxons.

The Saxons first started to settle in numbers in the sixth century and soon set up Saxon kingdoms.

They introduced a new pattern of settlement abandoning the traditional areas of roman towns and villages leaving them well alone for several hundred years, even the roman roads which were so good were rarely used.

After this period more and more of the old roman sites were then taken up by the Saxons and resettled.

The Saxon nobles lived in large halls only afforded by the rich and the influential of Saxon society.

They were buried in rich pagan graves and often accompanied by gold and jewels and utensils considered necessary for the after life whilst the Saxon peasants lived in squalid conditions with plain flat graves.

Indeed Sutton Hoo has proved to be one of the richest grave burials known in this country although shortly after 625AD burial along with personal possessions fell sharply into decline.

Saxon Brooch0000 Saxon Map

So what happened to the Celts who were in the area when the Saxons arrived?

The Celts themselves not only served the Saxons as slaves or serfs but some groups even lived along side the Saxons in peace.

Saxon place names and family names can be found to contain Celtic names mixed within them.

Here in Warburton however I have found evidence that the site, once roman, was indeed also used by the Saxons for a time.

Saxon Brooch

The evidence comes from my unearthing of a large fragment of a Saxon cruciform brooch which has been chip carved and gilded with gold leaf and can be seen on this page including a reconstruction of where on the brooch this fragment would have come from.

Although only one artefact from the Saxon period has been recovered to date it is highly significant for the history of Warburton as literacy became a thing of the past during this period and few records were kept, this is known as the dark ages and it is for this reason that archaeology and the discovery of artefacts of the Saxon period can shed new light on Saxon society.

It is safe to conclude that any Saxon artefact can be classed as of utmost importance and I am sure that in the future many more artefacts will come to light in the Warburton area.

Any new Saxon finds will be added to this page as and when they occur.