Retracing Saxon Footsteps: Exercise Shallow Grave

An astonishing story of the discovery of an extensive 7^th Century burial site, right on our doorstep!

A talk by archaeologist Richard Osgood.

Richard first gave a Wessex Week talk on this fascinating discovery in 2023 and is back to provide an update on the dig, which is happening right now!

Gloucestershire in the 7^th Century was a ‘liminal zone‘: true frontier land. Traces of this age are limited and yet a Cotswold field has recently yielded some very important finds, evidence for a settlement which has associated burials – one of which was provided with a series of impressive grave goods. Located by a metal detectorist, the site was investigated further by Gloucestershire Council and then by participants on the Operation Nightingale programme using archaeology to assist the recovery of military veterans. Hence, Exercise ‘Shallow Grave’ was formed. This talk will explore the site in the Cotswolds and then draw in recent parallels from other sites in Wessex – on the chalklands of the military training area of Salisbury Plain.

(Rumour has it that Time Team may be involved – but our friends at Cotswold Archaeology are certainly on the case)