Archaeologists Tuesday revealed that a 1,300-year-old necklace of gold and gemstones found at the site of a new housing development is the grave of a powerful woman, who may have been a early Christian religious leader in Britain.
Experts believe the necklace was found near Northampton, central England with other items. It is believed to be part of the oldest early medieval burial of a woman in the U.K.
The only thing that remains of the woman is her tooth enamel. Scientists believe her long-buried trove of information will shed light on the life of 7th century England. This was a time when Christianity was fighting with paganism for peoples’ loyalty.
Lyn Blackmore is a senior finds specialist at Museum of London Archaeology and made the discovery.
“She was very devout but was she a princess?” Did she consider herself a nun? Was she more than a nun? Blackmore stated, “We don’t know.”
Archaeologists and Vistry Group, a property developer, discovered the Harpole Treasure in April. It was named after the village it was found.
Levente-Bence Balazs, the site supervisor, noticed something shimmering in the dirt on one of the final days of the 10-week dig. It was a rectangular, gold pendant with a cross motif inlaid with garnets. This pendant was the centerpiece of a necklace which also included pendants made from gold Roman coins and ovals semiprecious stone pendants.
Balazs stated that “these artifacts haven’t seen daylight for more than 1,300 year.” It’s indescribable to be the first person ever to see it.
Researchers believe the burial occurred between 630 and 670 A.D., which is the same time period as other graves of high-ranking females found in Britain. Experts believe that the burial could have been a result of women becoming more powerful and prominent in England’s new Christian faith.
The Harpole Treasure was discovered in the Kingdom of Mercia. It was converted to Christianity in 7th century. The woman buried there was probably a believer or a leader in Christianity. In the grave, a large and elaborate silver cross was placed upon her body. It’s adorned with small, exquisitely preserved likenesses, possibly of Christ’s apostles, of human heads with blue-glass eyes. Also found were clay pots made from France and Belgium that contained residues of an unknown liquid.
In a matter of decades, Christianity spread more widely in England and the practice of burying people was abandoned.
Simon Mortimer, an archaeologist and consultant RPS, said that “Burying people in blingy giddy is a pagan idea, but this is clearly heavily vested Christian iconography, so this is that period of quite rapid changing.” He was one of the individuals who assisted with the project.
These Harpole discoveries will fill in the gaps in our knowledge of the period between the departure of Britain’s Roman occupiers around 5th century, and the arrival of Viking raiders nearly 400 years later. Experts believe it is one of the most important Saxon finds since the 7th century ship burial at Sutton Hoo (about 100 miles to its east).
After archaeologists are done with their work, it is planned that the items will be displayed in a local museum.
British property developers are required to consult archaeologists in their planning process. Mortimer stated that this practice has resulted in some significant finds.
He said that “We are now seeing places we wouldn’t normally have looked at” and that “we are discovering genuinely surprising things.”
He said, “The wealth of that area is going to change the way we view the early medieval period.” This find has influenced the course of history, ever so slightly.
