Locking Parklands, North Somerset

AC archaeology’s investigations at Locking Parklands, near Weston-super-Mare, revealed an early-medieval cemetery. Of the 18 skeletons, six were probably female, four were probably male and five were children or teenagers. Eight of the skeletons were accompanied by grave goods including knives, jewellery items, an antler comb and a whetstone. A particular fine object was a sheet silver pendant with repoussé decoration, which was found in the neck area of an individual estimated to be 11-13 years at death, who returned a radiocarbon date of 660-774 cal CE. Isotope analysis of four skeletons concluded that three of the individuals were locals, whereas the fourth was likely to have originated from further inland. DNA analysis found that loose milk teeth within one grave were from a relative of the buried person. Locking is the most westerly cemetery with Anglo-Saxon style furnished graves so far discovered in England.

The Locking Parklands excavation was published in volume 166 of the Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society.