Britain Flashcards
The Staffordshire Hoard. The largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered, in a field in Hammerwich in 2009. It was discovered by a metal detectorist. Contains over 3500 items, most of which are martial, and from the 7th and 8th centuries. The materials show trade routes as they were sourced from all over the world.
Ridgeway Hill Massacre. This is a viking burial pit in Weymouth, Dorset, containing 54 viking skeletons and 51 heads. They were killed by saxons sometime between 910 and 1030 AD. The chemical signature of the water in their teeth show they were Vikingsm and their diseases were evident in their bones. The first viking landing was relatively close- in Portland, Dorset.
The Roman market town of Wroexter, 58AD. The fourth largest civitas in Roman Britain A site which shows that urban life and the power of Romano-Brits was not extinguished when the Roman Empire fell - this resited Saxon influence. This is particularly evident in the fact that a Church was still being used, when the Saxons were intially pagans. Excavation began in 1880.
Sutton Hoo - Anglo- Saxon ship burial from the 7th-9th century. Excavated in 1939. This is a incredibly important archaeological find and contained many objects such as helments, wet stones for swords, and gold objects.
Dunadd Fort, Argyll, Scotland. This was the royal residence of the Dal Riata. It has been suggested that the foot hole was used for initiations, possibly coronation. It contained many gold objects and imported pottery.
Pictish Symbol Stone, 6th-9th century, Scotland. Shows a mirror and comb along with many unidenitfied symbols. Symbols are split into the categories of Geometric, creatures, and real life object. Their function is unknown but they could be land or burial markers.
Pictish Roundhouse at Newmills with a souterrain to itself. This tunnel could have been used to hide women and children from raiders, but this is unlikely as houses were often burnt down. They were probably used as a kind of fridge storage.
The Pictish Coastal Promontory Fort at Burghead, the Pictish Royal Centre in Scotland.
