The individual in Grave 96b had an estimated age of death between the ages of 20 and 30 years and was buried with a knife, a spearhead, an iron pin and a sword. The skull of the skeleton is at right position, both arms are straight with the hands on top of femurs and the right foot is crossed over the left one. Grave 96b was also identified as male by the grave goods despite the fact that the preliminary bone report was uncertain. Further analysis of the skeleton suggested that the individual was a female, but there wasn’t a definitive result, the sexual identity of the occupant of 96b remains indefinite.
Stereotypically the grave goods belong to a male, but it is not uncommon for females to be found buried alongside weaponry (women warriors like amazons). Considering the layout of the grave, we will see that the skeletons have been similarly positioned. Both swords have been placed into the grave at very similar angle between the main body and the left hand. Both skulls have also been positioned facing the same direction, looking down towards the right shoulder.
It was suggested by Evison that both graves belonged to ‘warriors of noble rank’ (war equipment), possibly a homosexual couple, unlike to be a male and female warriors or couple. Accorded to the evidence of bone similarity there is the possibility that homosexuality was be socially acceptable to the Anglo-Saxons. For this reason, they allowed to commit this type of double burial. Unfortunately we cannot state clearly the sex and the events that led to this particular burial; we can only make suggestions, because it’s a ‘deviant burial’ in all its forms.
Bibliography:
- Evison, V. I.(1987). Dover, the Buckland Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Archaeological report no.3, London
- Lucy, S. and Reynolds, A. J., (2002). Burial in Early Medieval England and Wales, London.
- Rahtz, P., Dickinson, T. and Watts, L., (1980). Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries 1979. BAR British Series 82. Oxford,O.U.P.
Evison, V. I. 1987. Dover, the Buckland Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Archaeological report no.3 London
Evison, V. I. 1987. Dover, the Buckland Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Archaeological report no.3 London,p.239
Evison, V. I. 1987. Dover, the Buckland Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Archaeological report no.3 London,p.124
Diagram 1.1: Dover, Buckland Cemetery: Grave 96a and 96b,p.348
Evison, V. I. 1987. Dover, the Buckland Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Archaeological report no.3 London,p.126