Facts About Taplow Barrow
The Taplow Barrow is an early medieval burial mound located at Taplow Court in Buckinghamshire, England. Constructed in the seventh century, this site contains the remains of a prominent individual, accompanied by various grave goods now displayed in the British Museum. This burial is particularly significant as it dates back to the “conversion period,” a time when Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were transitioning to Christianity.
The person interred at Taplow is believed to have been a local chieftain, possibly connected to the Kingdom of Kent. The grave goods included military items such as swords and spears, as well as drinking horns and glass beakers, all suggesting the individual’s aristocratic status. When the mound was excavated in 1883, a range of artifacts was uncovered, some of which are believed to have originated from Kent.
Perched atop a hill with a commanding view of the surrounding landscape, the burial mound's location appears to have been strategically chosen to assert territorial claims and display high status. Its proximity to an Iron Age hillfort and an early church adds an intriguing dimension, indicating a blend of ancient traditions and emerging Christian influences during this period.
Among the grave goods found at Taplow were items for feasting, weaponry, a lyre, a gaming board, textiles, and other artifacts typical of Germanic princely burials. Many of these items, likely of Kentish origin, underscore the high social standing of the person buried there. Until the discovery of the Sutton Hoo ship burial, the Taplow Barrow was considered one of the most opulently furnished Anglo-Saxon burials.
The 1883 excavation of the Taplow Barrow involved several individuals and unearthed a variety of artifacts, which were subsequently donated to the British Museum. The nearby church suggests that the area might have been involved in later Christianization efforts, possibly linked to elite burials in the region.