Sarre Grave A

In August last, in chalk land at Sarr, about 6 feet below the surface, some workmen, in excavating the soil for the erection of a steam-engine, found the following relics: A fibula [BM 1860, 1024.1], a bulla, four gold coins or medals [BM 1860, 1024.2], a large and symmetrical bronze bowl [BM 1860, 1024.3], a metal pin [BM 1860, 1024.4], bead of amethystine quartz, necklace of beads of amber and of coloured clays [BM 1860, 1024.2], iron weapons, metal clasp of large purse, and some pieces of iron, the use of which I was at a loss to determine. These were deposited in a grave where a skeleton was found lying with the head north-west by south-east. The skull of the defunct was tolerably entire: it was rather thick, with a low forehead, and posterior part somewhat protuberant; but, with the exception of a few of the vertebrae and some fragmentary bones, little else remained. The teeth indicated that the deceased was of no very advanced age. A second grave, near the first, was also found, but it contained nothing but a few bones. The fibula found in the first grave was very beautiful, and nearly perfect. It had lain on the left breast. [...] A small metal pin, and a seax or knife [BM 1860, 1024.3], were also found in the grave, together with a large sword [weaving batten], a relic but rarely discovered in the Anglo-Saxon interments, and which is probably indicative of the rank of high command of the deceased warrior.