In February 2003 Tees Archaeology started the excavation of an early Christian cemetery in Norton, by the time the work had finished 100 skeletons had been discovered and excavated. These are now being cleaned and will be examined by a pathologist so that we can learn what sex they are, how old they were when they died and any information about diet disease that the bones retain.

In the 1980's a pagan Anglo-Saxon cemetery was excavated at Norton, this contained about 125 individuals and had been in use from about 550 AD to 610 AD. Some of the finds from this excavation are on display in Norton Library.

In the years since there have been isolated discoveries of human remains at Bishopsmill School which is about 200m away from the pagan cemetery. Then in 2003 Stockton Borough Council decided to refurbish and extend the school and Tees Archaeology worked alongside the council to ensure the proper treatment of the burials.

The burials were arranged in rows and some had iron fittings from chests in the graves suggesting that they had been buried in these. It was clear that this was a Christian cemetery, there were none of the finds of pottery, beads and metalwork which were discovered in the Pagan cemetery. It is also clear that the cemetery is large and extends beneath the properties around the school, it must contain at least 600 individuals.

We think that this cemetery dates from the acceptance of Christianity in the area in the early 600's and continued in use until the present church at Norton which dates from the 1080's AD. The size of the cemetery suggests that it served the whole of the Parish of Norton, including Stockton, Hartburn and Preston and there must have been a church in the immediate area, although where is unknown.

Robin Daniels, Archaeology Officer

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