Hornsea 'Anglo-Saxon' Cemetery
#SUBHEADING#The Excavations#SUBHEADINGEND# In 1913, whilst building a bowling green for the newly built Hornsea Hydro-Hotel, a number of early Anglo-Saxon burials were discovered. Thomas Sheppard, the then curator of Hull Museums, excavated a total of twelve skeletons from the site. No further exploration of the cemetery was made until 70 years later when further building work in the area brought about the discovery of another six burials. Ten of the original burials were placed in a row, aligned East to West. The remaining two lay at either end of a possible parallel row to the north. Seven of these burials were extended. This means the body has been placed with the spine and leg bones in more or less a straight line. Whilst the remainder were crouched - the hip and knee joints had been bent through more than 90 degrees. These burials belong to the people who lived in Britain following the Roman occupation. They are often referred in history and archaeology as 'Anglo-Saxons'. They lived here during the 'Early-Medieval' period (around 410 - 800 AD). The cemetery in Hornsea dates to around the 6th century AD. #SUBHEADING#The Grave Goods#SUBHEADINGEND# #IMAGE#The people buried at Hornsea believed in an afterlife. Food and personal belongings were buried with them to aid them in their new life. Grave goods found at the cemetery include four beautiful copper alloy 'cruciform' (cross-shopped) brooches. Other finds included copper alloy strap-fittings, a fine ornamented silver disc' the blade from an iron knife, a copper alloy buckle, a necklace of many coloured glass and ceramic beads and a jet spindle whorl. A bell was also discovered at the same time as the excavations but our archives suggest this was found in a nearby garden. #IMAGE# Three food vessels where also found alongside the burials. Unlike Anglo-Saxon cremation urns these vessels are plain without any trace of decoration. They are very similar to ordinary domestic vessels and would probably have contained food when placed with the burials. The total size of the cemetery still remains unclear. In 1970 part of a bone comb was found at the foot of the cliffs to the north of the original site. This may suggest that the cemetery was spread over a much larger area than first anticipated. The finds from the cemetery are now part of Hull & East Riding Museums collections and are searchable through our online database. An early account of the excavations suggest that various small beads and one or two copper alloy brooches had been divided up amongst the workmen prior to Thomas Sheppard's arrival on site. It could even be possible that some of the missing grave goods are still in the workers families today. #IMAGE# So, if you have a family connection to Hornsea, you never know what you could find lurking at the back of your cupboard!
The Story of the Horkstow Mosaic
This famous mosaic was found in 1797 by labourers preparing a kitchen garden at Horkstow Hall, Lincolnshire. Unfortunately they destroyed large areas of it before realising the importance of what they had unearthed - a mosaic floor belonging to great hall of a large and wealthy villa.
The Rudston Swastika Mosaic
This remarkably complete mosaic is known as the Swastika or Geometric Mosaic and was found in 1933 at the Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire. It came from the central room of the same house as the Venus and Aquatic Mosaics which are also displayed at the Hull and East Riding Museum. The mosaic measures 2.75m square and dates to the later 3rd century AD, the same date as the Venus Mosaic.
Rock and Roll! - Or How to Lift a Mosaic
Rock and Roll! - Or How to Lift a Mosaic. This narrative will show you how mosaics are lifted out of the ground so they can be displayed in museums for all to see.
The Horkstow Mosaic
The Horkstow Mosaic is one of the largest and most interesting mosaics ever found in Britain. It was uncovered in 1797 by labourers making a kitchen garden at Horkstow Hall in Lincolnshire and would have graced a large hall at a very wealthy and sophisticated 4th century Roman villa.
History of the Hull & East Riding Museum
This narrative tells the story of the Hull and East Riding Museum which is located in what is now known as Hull's Museum Quarter.
The Skerne Sword
The Skerne sword is an unusually fine example of a pattern-welded sword with decorated handle dating to the 10th century AD - the Viking period. It was found during excavations of a waterlogged site at Skerne, near Driffield, East Yorkshire in 1982 by the Humberside Archaeology Unit. It had been dropped, complete with its wooden scabbard, into the River Hull from a jetty or bridge.
A study of the Hasholme Boat
The discovery of a heavy cargo vessel in the silty clay riverbed of the Humber remained preserved for centuries until drainage uncovered her for all to see. For thousands of years the Humber has influenced lives and communities over thousands of square miles of Eastern Central England. For centuries Hull has dominated this great river. Read on to find out more about this early form of transport used to cross the Humber.
The Discovery of the Hasholme Boat
Learn about the discovery of this heavy cargo vessel from the banks of the Humber and how it ended up in a Hull museum.
The Ferriby Boats - Europe's Oldest Seacraft
The Ferriby boats were first found in 1937, two further boats were discovered in 1940 and 1963, all by Ted Wright who has become the principal authority on them. All were buried in the thick and very difficult blue clay in the inter-tidal regions of North Humberside. Read on to discover more about these early sea crafts.
The Rudston Charioteer Mosaic
The Charioteer Mosaic is one of the most striking and unusual mosaics to have been found so far in Roman Britain. Named after the central figure standing on a 'quadriga' or four-horse chariot, it paved a large room at a 4th century AD villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire. It is thought to have been laid between about 325 and 350 AD.
The Rudston Aquatic Mosaic
The Aquatic Mosaic paved the 'apodytherium' or changing room of the bath-house at the Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire. It was discovered in 1933 together with the Venus Mosaic and the Swastika Mosaic.
The Story of the Rudston Mosaics
The Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire, first came to light in 1838 when walls, roofing tiles, wall plaster and the remains of a mosaic floor were found by farm workers. Unfortunately most of the pavement was destroyed by the same workers - they dug it up in the hope of finding treasure!
The Brantingham Geometric Mosaics
The Roman villa at Brantingham, 3km northwest of Brough in East Yorkshire, was first discovered in 1941 when two geometric mosaics were found in a stone quarry known as the 'Cockle Pits'. They were recorded and then reburied. What followed is one of the biggest mysteries in Yorkshire archaeology.
