Rare glass bowl uncovered

The pale green bowl, dating from the late fifth or early sixth century, was discovered in, a grave site that contained several skeletons and trinkets, including ornate buckles and spearheads, English Heritage said Thursday.Archaeologists believe the bowl was imported from the Rhineland in present-day Germany, and its inclusion in the burial site in Hampshire, southern England, indicated those buried there were of great importance in society."It is marvelous that this fragile cup which gives a rare and evocative glimpse of early Anglo-Saxon life has survived intact in such a wonderful condition," said David Miles, chief archaeologist at English Heritage. The bowl measures 5 inches aross and 1 inches high.

Miles said the foreign imports found in the graves could indicate a complex society with greater contact with Europe and the Mediterranean than had been thought.

The skeletons are being examined at Bristol University. Analysis so far has revealed that half were people aged under 25 and two were children. No causes of death have been established.