by Stephen Waite

swaite@thekmgroup.co.uk

Volunteers uncovering Sittingbourne’s Saxon past found themselves looking into the eyes of a giant wasp-like creature.

But there was no need to reach for the bug spray - this one was well and truly dead.

The 1,400-year-old, as yet unidentified insect was discovered at CSI: Sittingbourne in The Forum shopping centre, where finds from the Meads cemetery graves are being worked on.

It had been preserved in a corroded belt buckle but it was only when a powerful digital microscope - usually used by engineering companies to find faults in machinery - was brought in for the day that the team could see it in detail.

Conservation manager Dana Goodburn-Brown said: "In 30 years of work I had never seen anything like it.

"The fact that we have an insect preserved is evidence that the Anglo-Saxons in Sittingbourne, about 1,400 years ago, probably laid their dead out for a few days, as part of the burial rites, presumably for friends and family to pay their last respects.

Conservation manager Dana Goodburn-Brown and volunteer Shirley Potter looking into the eyes of a 1,400-year-old wasp-type insect

"It is also probable that the person who wore the buckle that this insect was found on, died in the spring or summer."

The microscope also revealed what Dana described as fine workmanship of tiny gold beaded wires in spirals and polishing marks on a crystal ball, which would have belonged to a woman of high status.

Conservation Science Investigation (CSI) Sittingbourne, a partnership between Canterbury

Archaeological Trust and Sittingbourne Heritage Museum, reopened in February thanks to a grant from county councillor Mike Whiting and usually opens three days a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

It is the only shopping centre-based conservation project in the country and its future relies on sufficient funding being available.

Dana said: "Not only would we like funds to continue conserving the Anglo-Saxon cemetery finds, but it would be wonderful if we could actually buy a digital microscope to share our discoveries with the public.

"Many of our volunteers have returned and a few new ones have joined the project - we continue to make new discoveries every day."

A Heritage Lottery Fund bid has been prepared and was due to be submitted in the next two weeks, with a response expected by the end of the summer.

Meanwhile, anyone who would like to help with fundraising for the project can visit the permanent exhibition opposite CSI Sittingbourne in The Forum or call Dana on 07973 856311.