First discovered in this Anglo-Saxon grave in 2018, the Scremby Chalice predates the burial by 300 years, hinting at a fascinating relationship between the Romans and Anglo-Saxons.
H: Willmott et al., European Journal of Archaeology (2024)The Scremby Chalice, a Roman goblet found in the grave of an Anglo-Saxon girl buried in England 1,500 years ago.
When archaeologists in England unearthed the grave of an Anglo-Saxon girl who died nearly 1,500 years ago, they soon made an even more remarkable discovery. There, placed right next to her head, was a chalice that, according to a new study, was once filled with pig fat.
This multicolored goblet is 1,800 years old and has now been dubbed the “Scremby Chalice.” While the exact purpose of this chalice remains unknown, based on the new analysis, researchers believe it served a “unique purpose” for the Anglo-Saxon burial.
The Initial Discovery Of The Scremby Chalice In An Anglo-Saxon Grave
According to the new study, published in the European Journal of Archaeology, the so-called Scremby Cup was found during an excavation in 2018.
Archaeologists from the University of Sheffield discovered the chalice in the grave of a young woman, designated burial “Sk18,” within a cemetery containing 49 burials dated between 480 and 540 C.E. The woman’s grave was modestly furnished, featuring only two circular brooches, a pair of bracelets, and the chalice, which was placed intact beside her head, suggesting that it had special significance.
H: Willmott et al., European Journal of Archaeology (2024)The grave of the Anglo-Saxon girl in which the Scremby Chalice was found.
Measuring 2.2 inches in height with a capacity of 1.2 cups, the chalice showcases Roman artisanship. Its elegant design features vertical panels filled with colored enamels in shades of blue, red, and aquamarine, contrasting with the horizontal decorations typical of Roman vessels.
Crafted using the lost-wax casting technique, the chalice likely originated from Roman Britain or possibly France, based on stylistic and metallurgical parallels.
The inclusion of the chalice in an Anglo-Saxon burial is particularly noteworthy. Unlike the fragmented Roman artifacts often found in such contexts, the Scremby Chalice retained its original form and functionality, suggesting it may have been preserved as a family heirloom or recovered from an earlier Roman burial.
Its intact condition and placement within the grave indicate a ceremonial or symbolic purpose, possibly serving as a marker of status or spiritual importance.
“I’m sure the cup was originally made as a drinking vessel,” medieval archaeologist Hugh Willmott told Live Science. “However, when it was chosen to be placed in the grave, its function seems to have shifted again.”
Seeking to find an answer about this new purpose, researchers analyzed the organic residue found within the cup — and discovered that it contained a high concentration of lipids likely from pig fat.
Analysis Of The Scremby Chalice Reveals Unique Cultural Exchange Between Romans And Anglo-Saxons
H: Willmott et al., European Journal of Archaeology (2024)Cross-section of the cup and its decorative scheme on the left. On the right, a 3D scan of the goblet.
Lipid residue analysis of the chalice’s interior revealed traces of unheated, raw porcine fats, pointing to non-culinary uses.
Researchers hypothesized that the fat may have served a medicinal or ritual purpose, similar to examples found in sixth-century Byzantine texts that reference pig fat as a treatment for infections.
“It might be worth considering,” Willmott said, that “the woman buried might have been someone who practiced folk medicine in the local community.”
So far, the exact purpose of the Scremby Chalice and why it was included in the grave remains a mystery, however. Researchers are still conducting analysis on other skeletons from the cemetery, so perhaps future research could reveal more information about this Anglo-Saxon girl and her Roman chalice.
After this look at the Scremby Chalice, read all about another famous chalice: the Holy Grail. Then, learn about some of history’s most fascinating unsolved ancient mysteries.
