A RECENT dig led by Richard Osgood, Senior Archaeologist with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, with volunteers from Operation Nightingale, has been working on an Anglo-Saxon burial ground dating back to the seventh and eighth century.

The site close to Netheravon had been considered as a possible location for the Royal Artillery Museum and preliminary surveys revealed the existence of the graves.

The dig has been rich in finds with 21 burials and 19 graves uncovered at the site and the finds in the graves that have been excavated have included knives, coins, glass beads, pottery, and jewellery dating from the seventh century.

A child’s grave produces a necklace with glass beads and two lockets that were made from 3rd Century Roman coins, antiques when they were placed in the grave and another bronze disc with four perfect holes drilled in it.

Working on the dig is 13-year veteran Christopher Burdon served with First Fusiliers and has always been interested in archaeology.

“I struggled a bit with life after the military to be honest, I had never been involved with civilian life then I started work at Stonehenge and a friend there told me about Op Nightingale and how archaeology could help so I got involved and haven’t looked back.”

Also working on one of the burials is Sergeant David Heron Adjutant Generals Corps who is serving with the Army Welfare Service in Tidworth.

“This is absolutely great,” said David. “My job is looking after families and for me, from a therapeutic sense, people come to the AWS when they bare in crisis and being here has allowed me time to process my thoughts and has been a great benefit.”

“This project is part of Operation Nightingale which has been running for 12 years,” said Richard. “The aim is to give increased wellbeing and improve the recovery of members of the Armed Forces, both serving and veterans through using archaeology.”

“When we finish, the graves are filled in; the soil is returned and we make it so that the farmer can have a hay crop here next year. The Challenger tanks, the Warriors and infantry will once again return to use this land for training unaware of the past that once existed beneath their boots.”