Barrington A (Edix Hill) is an important Anglo-Saxon site in Cambridgeshire with 115 burials (148 individuals) spanning from AD 500–700. The site was used by a rural community of around 50-65 people with a complete burial record of all ages and sexes, and material culture suggesting a mixture of cultural identities (Malim and Hines 1998). This research presents the first ancient DNA evidence from the site, where 22 individuals have been analysed genetically in context of nearby contemporary Anglo- Saxon populations. The study will address ideas of relatedness, social groups and cultural identity by exploring correlations between genetic information and burial data. Variation in burial rites within Anglo-Saxon cemeteries will be assessed through an exploration of site organisation and the identification of clusters of individuals sharing biological or cultural similarities. The conclusions of this research have demonstrated that collective burials do not necessarily indicate the presence of related individuals. Therefore, the study highlights the value in interpreting genetic data from an archaeological perspective, which can elevate results to enable an insight into the lives of individuals in the past. Jessica Bates (University of Cambridge)
TAG Deva 2018
Session: Integrating Theory and Science in Archaeology
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