In late 2016/early 2017 Headland Archaeology’s Midlands and West office undertook archaeological work in connection with improvements to buildings and facilities in the College Cloisters beside Hereford Cathedral. During the excavation the remains of three skeletons were discovered and have been radiocarbon dated to the 7th and 8th centuries, prior to the Norman Conquest of England. This is a particularly exciting discovery as out of the thousands of burials (2456 to be exact) excavated around the cathedral only one other has been securely dated to the same period. The skeletons were found at a depth of nearly two metres within an area formerly occupied by the 15th century Custos Lodge.
Potential Mercian battle victim during excavation [Credit: Headland Archaeology] |
The most minor of the blade wounds was a small cut across the right thumb. More serious is a stab wound to the left ribs, between the 8th and 9th ribs. While he could have potentially survived this it would have resulted in a punctured lung, spleen, or stomach.
Stab wound to left ribs [Credit: Headland Archaeology] |
The second and final fatal injury was a very powerful blow to the head from behind with an edged weapon (like a sword or axe). The blade cut through the skull into the brain and would have been almost immediately fatal. The sheer force of the blow was so strong it broke the back of his head and deformed the skull around the point of impact.
Stab wound cutting the left scapula, 7th and 8th vertabrae, finishing in the 9th vertebra [Credit: Headland Archaeology] |
Although little detail of the event is known, several Welsh sources record a battle of Hereford taking place in AD760. Given the violent death of this man it could be speculated that he was involved in these battles. Given that he has a potentially healed injury to his elbow it is also a possibility that it wasn’t his first time on the battlefield, although it was certainly his last.
Cut wound at the back of the skull [Credit: Headland Archaeology] |
The Dean of Hereford, The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, said: “We have long suspected that the earliest cathedral in Hereford was located in the vicinity of College Cloisters – with this burial we now have another key piece of evidence to indicate that this is indeed the case”.
Source: Headland Archaeology [November 11, 2017]