ANGLO-SAXON DISCOVERY
Journey through Anglo-Saxon life and death

This horn core (AN1968.1461) was found near one of the buildings (pit 2 west of House 7) that was excavated at Sutton Courtenay in Oxfordshire by Edward Thurlow Leeds.

This plan shows the three pits which were found near to one of the houses. The horn core was found in pit 2. This pit had a circular stone lined hearth.

The skull and some bones from a small dog had also been buried in this pit.

It is not certain if these pits represented houses or other buildings.

Other objects were found in these pits including:

• a gouge made from an iron knife - this may have been a woodworking tool

• a damaged cow bell
• fragments of pottery
• skull and skeleton of a horse and other animal bones
• fragments of a knife and whetstone
• iron fragments including a possible bucket rim

What do these objects tell us about this house?

These pits could have originally been one or more buildings. It is difficult to say what was being done in this area of the village. There was obviously a purpose for the hearth, which may have been for cooking and domestic use or for metal working and industrial use. This area of the village may have been used for dumping rubbish, including animal burials. The Anglo-Saxons appear to have buried the horse just like some people bury their pets today.