Jaw

A jaw bone taken from Grave 8 in the Saxon cemetery, a jaw from a male aged around 20 to 25 years, strongly built and over six foot tall. A portion of bone measuring approximately 25 x 5 mm has been cut away from the angle of the mandible. The nature of the cut is consistent with a heavy blow from a sword. which, having cut through the bone entered the neck. The effects of the stroke would have been to sever parts of the muscels and open the carotid artery and internal jugular vein. The ensuing haemorrhage would have brought about a swift death. It seems probable that a wound of this natrue was caused by the victim either facing or lying at the feet of his assailant.