Ebook: Townfoot Farm, Cumwhitton, Cumbria: Investigative Conservation of Material from the Viking Cemetery. Archaeological Conservation Report

This report covers the investigative conservation of Viking material from Cumwhitton located to the south-west of Carlisle, Cumbria. In 2004 two early 10th-century tortoise shell-type brooches were found by metal detectorists in plough soil on farmland to the rear of Townfoot Farm. These were reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and subsequently an evaluation and English Heritage funded excavation were carried out by Oxford Archaeology North. This led to the discovery and excavation of a Viking period cemetery comprising 6 grave assemblages. The burials were in an extremely poor condition with little skeletal material remaining and the metalwork badly corroded and damaged. The assemblage comprised over 1000 small find numbers including 12 objects or groups of objects freeze-lifted, 7 large soil blocks and a number of smaller soil blocks. Numerous small finds and fragments were also excavated from the plough soil, many of which are disturbed from grave fills. Unusual finds include a sword, length of iron chain, drinking horn mounts and remains of a needlework box.