This report covers the investigative conservation of Viking material from Cumwhitton located to the south-west of Carlisle, Cumbria. In 2004 two early 10th-century tortoise shell-type brooches were found by metal detectorists in plough soil on farmland to the rear of Townfoot Farm. These were reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and subsequently an evaluation and English Heritage funded excavation were carried out by Oxford Archaeology North. This led to the discovery and excavation of a Viking period cemetery comprising 6 grave assemblages. The burials were in an extremely poor condition with little skeletal material remaining and the metalwork badly corroded and damaged. The assemblage comprised over 1000 small find numbers including 12 objects or groups of objects freeze-lifted, 7 large soil blocks and a number of smaller soil blocks. Numerous small finds and fragments were also excavated from the plough soil, many of which are disturbed from grave fills. Unusual finds include a sword, length of iron chain, drinking horn mounts and remains of a needlework box.
Author(s): Jacqui Watson, Karla Graham, Angela Karsten, Lucy Skinner, Ulrike Schaeder, Sharon Penton, Jie Gao, Vanessa Fell, Jennifer Jones
Series: Research Department Report Series, 72, 2011
Publisher: English Heritage
Year: 2011
Language: English
Pages: 86
City: Portsmouth
Introduction 1
Condition of material2
Ironwork 2
Copper alloy 2
Mineral preserved organic material 3
Glass, Amber and Jet 4
Conservation 4
Analysis 5
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis 5
Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)
analysis 6
Investigative conservation 6
Grave 24 6
Grave 24 Beads SF 776, 778, 799 to 802 and 804 7
Grave 24 Iron sword SF 779 8
Grave 24 Copper alloy ring-pin with sword SF 779 11
Grave 24 Knife SF 780 11
Grave 24 Fire-lighting kit SF 781, 786 to 789 12
Grave 24 Iron buckles SF 782 and 783 13
Grave 24 Iron rivet SF 9080 14
Grave 25 14
Grave 25 Iron sword SF 880 16
Grave 25 Spearhead SF 881 18
Grave 25 Beads SF 882 and 883 18
Grave 25 Iron chain SF 884 18
Grave 25 Seax SF 885 19
Grave 25 Ring SF 887 21
Grave 25 Drinking horn SF 889 21
Grave 25 Copper alloy buckle and decorated plate SF 890 22
Grave 25 Tin alloy decorative mount or finial SF 891 23
Grave 25 Fire-lighting kit, copper alloy ring-pin and coin SF 892 23
Grave 25 Iron spurs SF 893 and 897 25
Grave 25 Copper alloy strap end SF 894 25
Grave 27 26
Grave 27 Drinking horn rim mount SF 784 27
Grave 27 Shears, sickle and comb group SF 785 and finial SF 786 27
Grave 27 Beads SF 790, 791, 807 to 810 29
Grave 27 Large copper alloy buckle SF 793 30
Grave 27 Copper alloy strap end SF 794 32
Grave 27 Jet ring SF 805 and bracelet SF 792 32
Grave 27 Neck ornament SF 806 33
Grave 32 33
Grave 32 Buckle SF 864 34
Grave 32 Spearhead SF 865 35
Grave 32 Iron knife SF 866 35
Grave 36 37
Grave 36 Iron spearhead SF 899 38
Grave 36 Ring-pin SF 900 39
Grave 36 Sword SF 901 39
Grave 36 Shield boss SF 903 40
Grave 36 Iron object SF 905 and flint SF 906 42
Grave 36 Bead SF 907 42
Grave 36 Buckle SF 908 and Strap end SF 902 42
Grave 36 Axe SF 1006 43
Grave 85 45
Grave 85 Tortoise Brooches SF1 46
Grave 85 Knife handle SF 32 51
Grave 85 Box and contents SF 33 51
Viking metalwork from plough soil 62
Plough soil Sword hilt SF 29 62
Plough soil Iron knife SF 31 63
Plough soil Iron spearhead SF 311 63
Plough soil Fragments of sword blade SF 402 and SF 405 63
Plough soil Iron knife SF 404 63
Plough soil Iron fragments SF 409 64
Plough soil Iron object SF 634 64
Discussion 64
Swords 64
Spearheads 65
Axe 65
Shield 66
Knives 66
Shears 66
Needlework box 66
Combs 68
Drinking horns 68
Buckles 69
Summary 69
References 70
Appendix A: Analysis of Tortoise Brooches 72
Introduction 72
Methodology 72
Results and conclusions 74
