Anglo-Saxon burial ground uncovered at Sizewell C site
The archaeological discoveries include high-status burials with weapons and a harnessed horse.
A nationally significant Anglo-Saxon burial ground has been uncovered during excavations for the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, offering new insights into life along the county’s coast during the early Middle Ages.
Among the most notable discoveries is a high-status grave containing two individuals buried alongside a fully harnessed horse, weapons, and personal items. Dating back to the 7th century, the burial reflects elite traditions that shed light on power, belief, and identity in early medieval England.
Excavations conducted by Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA) revealed at least 11 burial mounds near Theberton, Suffolk, which include cremation and inhumation burials arranged across a significant landscape point. Despite the local sandy soils causing poor bone preservation, researchers captured detailed information about burial practices and social hierarchies through meticulous recordings.
The burial ground is part of a broader archaeological effort surrounding Sizewell C infrastructure developments, with recent finds spanning several eras. Evidence of Roman industrial activity has also been uncovered, including a pottery kiln and an Iron Age oak ladder. Excavations at Goose Hill have revealed activity from Bronze Age farming to Roman salt production and Second World War coastal defences.
In 2023, archaeologists near the Sizewell C site found an 11th-century silver coin hoard encased in lead and cloth, nicknamed ‘the pasty.’ Experts believe it was buried during a time of significant social unrest.
Len Middleton, Project Officer at OCA, highlighted the national importance of these discoveries, stating, “Our work on the Anglo-Saxon barrow cemetery shows us how ideas of power, belief, and identity were expressed along the East Anglian coast in the early medieval period. Such finds deepen our understanding of early medieval England."
Suffolk County Council’s archaeological service is collaborating with the OCA team to ensure the artifacts are preserved for academic research and museum display.
Security measures remain in place across archaeological sites.