Age

Only a few pieces of the skeleton were found in the Asthall Barrow so we do not know the sex of the person. From the small amounts of bone that were found we know they were over 15 years old.

Sex

No brooches or weapons were found in this grave so we cannot be certain whether the person was male or female. E.T. Leeds originally thought a woman was buried in this mound but gaming pieces are more often found in male graves. The strap fittings may also have been for a sword or purse which also suggests a male grave. In the sixth and seventh centuries men were also more often buried in single mounds like this than women . Hence it seems more likely that a man was buried in Asthall Barrow.

Date

From the objects found in the mound, the burial can be dated to the late sixth to seventh centuries (AD675-750).

Status

We do know from the number and quality of the objects that the person in this grave was relatively rich and probably important. Single burials in large mounds were usually only used for important people.

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