stylistic:tone, information:filtering
Adoption of Frankish, Roman and Christian customs

The adoption of Christianity by the elite can be seen in the archaeological record in the reduction of richly furnished burials, with them becoming rare by the late 7th century and almost none between 730 and the beginning of the Viking Age towards the end of the 8th century. Furnished graves also become scarce in lower status contexts between the late 7th and early 8th centuries, although it took until roughly the 10th century before most burials were taking place in churchyards. In the late 6th to early 8th centuries, some burials show influences of both heathen and Christian customs such as the Prittlewell royal Anglo-Saxon burial which contained items such as gold foil crosses, a drinking horn and a lyre. The body was further positioned facing the east in a Christian manner whilst also being placed beneath a large howe. It has been argued that trying to ascertain whether the man buried was a Christian or pagan is ultimately unproductive as this period was characterised by ideological experimentation and religious syncretism.