Information for record number MWA602:
Iron Age to Anglo-Saxon burials

Summary Remains of four skeletons were found. One was dated to the IA/RB period one to the mid AS period. The site was located on the High Street, Bidford on Avon.
What Is It?  
Type: Cemetery, Burial
Period: Anglo-Saxon - Early medieval (160 BC - 980 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Bidford on Avon
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 10 51
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Skeletons found during construction of an extension to the back of Lloyds Bank. Parts of 4 individuals were recovered. There were no grave goods. The skeletons were found at varying depths. As far as could be determined after the damage caused by construction work, they were all aligned approximately W-E.
2 Parts of 2 of the skeletons were submitted to Harwell for C14 dating. Burial 2 produced a result of 1960+/-70 bp (10 bc), Burial 4 1210 +/- 80 bp (740 ad).
4 Traces of green coloration on one of the skeletons could indicate contact with an object of bronze.
5 In other words the skeletons may be of late Iron Age date.
6 A Saxon date seems more likely for this cemetery, C14 dates may be wrong (see WA 8129)
7 C14 dates not wrong but information originally entered in record (at 2) incomplete (now updated). Burial 2 calibrated dates range from 160BC to 230AD, Burial 4 dates 660AD to 980AD. Clearly not a single phase of Burials though undated Burials may bridge the gap. Date range for this record changed to reflect this.
8 Ref 4 above incorrect and refers to site MWA608.
 
Sources

Source No: 2
Source Type: Graphic material
Title: Radiocarbon Determination, Bidford on Avon
Author/originator: Alexander, Magnus
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Photograph
Title: IA to AS burials at Bidford
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card : text
Author/originator: JMG
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card : text
Author/originator: JMG
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: Bidford Radiocarbon dating
Author/originator:
Date: 1980
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Radiocarbon Dating Certificate, HAR 3433 and 3452
Author/originator: Harwell
Date: 1980
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Harwell Radiocarbon
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Report on Skeletal Material from Bidford
Author/originator: Wilkinson JL
Date: 1981
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report on Skeletal M
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Unpublished Document
Author/originator: Palmer S C
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Radiocarbon Dating certificate, HAR 3456
Author/originator: Harwell
Date: 1980
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm. Magnus Alexander
Author/originator: Magnus Alexander
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm. Magnus Alexander
Author/originator: Magnus Alexander
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Radiocarbon Dating Another name for radiocarbon dating is C14 dating. It is used to find out how old some archaeological remains are. Archaeologists do this by measuring the amount of radioactive carbon left in samples of organic material (from the remains of plants or animals).

All organic materials contain radioactive and non-radioactive carbon in fixed amounts while they are part of living plants or animals. When the plant or animal dies the radioactive carbon starts to decay. By comparing the amount of radioactive carbon left in the organic material with the amount of stable carbon, archaeologists can find out how old it is.
back
period Iron Age About 800 BC to 43 AD

The Iron Age comes after the Bronze Age and before the Roman period. It is a time when people developed the skills and knowledge to work and use iron, hence the name ‘Iron Age’ which is given to this period. Iron is a much tougher and more durable metal than bronze but it also requires more skill to make objects from it. People continued to use bronze during this period.
more ->
back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
more ->
back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument GRAVE * A place of burial. Use more specific type where known. back
monument BRIDGE * A structure of wood, stone, iron, brick or concrete, etc, with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space. Use specific type where known. back
monument CEMETERY * An area of ground, set apart for the burial of the dead. back
monument BURIAL * An interment of human or animal remains. Use specific type where known. If component use with wider site type. Use FUNERARY SITE for optimum retrieval in searches. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record