In 2019 via this blog, I reflected on a rather disturbing moment in the history of early Anglo-Saxon burial archaeology. You can read about the incident yourself on my blog-post from 9 February 2019: ‘Selling dead bodies and mortuary artefacts in the UK today: Welbeck Hill‘. I had subsequently learned that the collection being sold by Hansons went to auction in the following year: March 2020.

I’m writing again now following email communications on this matter with the son of the amateur archaeologist, the late Gordon Taylor, who had excavated the Welbeck Hill. I refer to Geoffrey Taylor who contacted me directly via email on Monday 10 July as follows:

William’s,  I suggest that you take down the photographs of my late farther from your web site. And retract the comments you wrote that  taylor was incapable  of publishing welbeck hill , a.s.a.p. I will give you 14 days then I will contact  my solicitor.  G Taylor 

Email from Geoffrey Taylor, 10/07/2023

Now this isn’t the first time Mr Taylor has left comments on my blog-post and social media posts, attempting to refute my concerns regarding the sale of the human remains and grave goods. He has previously left comments accusing me of being a ‘so-called expert’ and implying I have no right to an opinion on the subject. On the Facebook post of this blog, he stated ‘William’s had never seen the collection, he knew nothing of gordon Taylor. His comments were offensive and arrogant and he should apologise.’ Of course I can confirm that (a) I was never approached by anyone about the collection ahead of its sale, and was given no opportunity to review its contents, and that (b) no heritage professional or archaeologist, from any museum or other institution, has requested my expert opinion on this situation. These views are mine alone and reflect on my established track record as an early medieval archaeologist with a specialism in early Anglo-Saxon period mortuary practice.

I stand by my stance that it is unethical to buy and sell human remains and associated grave furnishings. I will not apologise for this stance.

Likewise, his comments can be found on Twitter, stating my blog-post was ‘untrue’.

In response to the email, I replied to Mr Taylor, querying whether this was indeed addressed to me as I am not ‘William’ (afterwards, I realised Mr Taylor had left similar comments on the 2019 blog-post too and I’ve now made those available for you to see).

Concerning the images of the late Gordon Taylor, I confirmed to Mr Taylor that I have never shared images of his late father online with or without permission and pointed out that the only image associated with my single blog-post about Welbeck Hill was a screenshot of a colleague’s tweet.

Regarding my blog-post comments, I made clear that my 2019 views were informed and accurate at the time to the best of my knowledge and reflected on the wider situation regarding the sale of human remains and early Anglo-Saxon period artefacts via auction.

Having said that, I did apologise for any unintended upset caused to the family. I have revised the description that the late Gordon Taylor was ‘not a trained archaeologist’ and was unable to publish his finds (even though both statements are true) with a more precise evaluation: ‘Taylor was not a professionally trained archaeologist in the modern sense and, regrettably, he was unable to publish his finds in a suitable venue backed up by expert analyses, funding and academic support.’

I feel the choice to sell the collection rather than gift it to a museum, as well as the way this was promoted via social media and in the press were unethical if legal (see the Twitter Moment of reactions here). As a result, I have retained my 2019 blog-post and its broader discussion of the situation it reported upon as it remains pertinent and accurate for 2023.

I asked of Mr Taylor for any updates on the situation regarding the collection, citing to him the website below. He pointed out that the family had tried to sell the collection to Lincoln Museum, and then approached Hansons. However, they are now content that the collection is in the custody of a museum. This brings me to my next point and some good news: the collection was never sold to a private collector. Instead, North Lincolnshire Museums acquired the collection.

Details were first tweeted by North Lincolnshire Museum in January 2023 and can be found here:

https://northlincolnshiremuseum.co.uk/discover/welbeck-hill-anglo-saxon-cemetery/

Here, it is stated that North Lincolnshire Museums ‘acquired the archive’ including the artefacts and human remains from 72 inhumation graves and 5 cremation burials of the early Anglo-Saxon period. The website states that the museum is ‘now planning the completion of the research and publication of this important cemetery archive.

Crucially, it notes that ‘The Welbeck Hill grave goods were purchased on 11 September 2020 with the support of the Arts council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Headley Trust, and the Museums Association Beecroft Bequest.’

The details of the acquisition, some 6 months after Hansons reported to have taken the collection to auction, are not stated. Likewise, the amount of money required to purchase the collection from the late Gordon Taylor’s family is not revealed.