According to the Associated Press, a magnificent gold necklace from the seventh century C.E. was discovered in England at the grave of a prominent woman who was buried around 1,300 years ago.
An elaborate silver cross was also discovered; it is currently being micro-excavated after an X-ray scan. It would have been placed on her chest, according to scholars. She was surrounded by French or Belgian clay pots that still had some kind of residue on them.
The significance of the artifact was explained by Lyn Blackmore of the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), the organization that made the discovery, to Artnet News. “Smaller crosses or brooches with cross motifs worn on the chest have been found in other female burials in this period, but nothing like this, which is backed with wood,” she said.
The woman herself is now the focus of keen inquiry despite the fact that only a few pieces of her teeth enamel are still there. She had a strong sense of devotion, but was she a princess? Possibly a nun. Was she an abbess rather than just a nun? “We don’t know,” Blackmore stated.
A significant cultural shift occurred during the seventh century C.E. as many regions of the United Kingdom converted to Christianity. Only men had previously received such spectacular graves, indicating that by this time women had begun to advance within the new Christian faith. The custom of interring people with valuables and objects would quickly become extinct due to its pagan origins.
According to Simon Mortimer of Archaeological Consultants, RPS, who funded the excavations, “The size of the wealth is going to transform our perception of the early medieval period in that area.” This discovery “has influenced history, ever so slightly.”
MOLA conservators are currently using scientific analysis to determine if the relics were used in daily life or during funeral rites.
The conclusion of Mortimer was, “This find is truly a once-in-a-lifetime discovery—the kind of stuff you read about in textbooks and not something you expect to see coming out of the ground in front of you.”
The surrounding area was not noteworthy in any way that would have stood out to archaeologists, but the dig was conducted as part of the standard planning procedure needed by British real estate developers. In this instance, Vistry Group intends to use the land for residential construction.
An official from Vistry announced that the company waives all claims to the Harpole Treasure, which will be given to the country and displayed in a nearby museum. The upcoming season of BBC Two’s “Digging for Britain,” which premieres in early January 2023, will first include it.
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