A SAXON BURIAL GROUND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 April 1930, Page 6

A SAXON BURIAL GROUND

Evidence of a Saxon settlement of considerable size was revealed by excavations on Chalk Hill, Guildford, at the eastern end of the Hog's Back, when the remains of a Saxon burial ground were discovered. About sixty skeletons were dug from the chalk, but a more important discovery was that of a wonderfully well preserved drinking vessel and the remains of a spear. These relics have enabled high authorities to place the date of burial as probably between A.D. 000 and 000. The skeleton of a warrior had at tho right side*}f the head a glass beaker, or drinking vessel, and by his rightside was his spear. The spear-head was ]3.]in long, with a central rib running down it find a closed socket. There was no sign of the wooden shaft, but by the man's foot was the butt of the spear eight inches long. This and the spear-head are of iron. The total length of the spear is 6ft. 2in and resembled spears used by the Saxons after A.D. 000. On the oilier hand the glass vessel was a kind used in pagan burials. It is about a foot long, some six inches across the top, and tapers towards the

bottom. The Saxon 'settlement was probably at the foot of the hill near the River Wey, as was the custom, with the burial place at the top of the hill.