The pendant is made from melted down gold coins brought to England from Northern France. The big jewel is a red garnet.This rare Anglo-Saxon pendant was discovered in 2006 by archaeologists excavating a cemetery at Street House, Redcar and Cleveland. It was originally placed in a grave with a Saxon princess, who was buried lying on her highly decorated bed. Surrounding her were buried over a 100 of her followers.
The pendant is gold with a central red gemstone which has been carved into a scallop shell shape. This design is unique in Anglo-Saxon jewellery.
Experts think that the owner was likely to have been a young woman of particularly high status, probably a member of Royalty, with strong family connections to Kent. If so, she may have married into a local family, and died a long way away from home.
Unfortunately there are no clues to tell us who she actually was, so her identity remains a mystery.
Saxon Princess Pendant
Contributed by Kirkleatham Hall
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- Location
- Culture
- Period
-
Made about 650 AD in Kent
- Theme
- Size
-
- H:
- 4cm
- W:
- 3cm
- D:
- 2cm
- Colour
- Material
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Comments
Your Name Is Shrouded In Mist
You lie ?neath the hill to the east
in fields ploughed by horses and beasts.
You?ve witnessed the scene
of man and machine?
?but your name is shrouded in mist.
You came from a place far away
to Upton in Cleveland, to stay.
?Midst barley and hay,
you spent your days?
?but your name is shrouded in mist.
From a girl to a woman, you grew
through times exciting and new.
In Hilda?s domain
through Northumbrian reign?
?but your name is shrouded in mist.
You walked over heather and sands
?cross Cleveland moors and strands.
You lived a life rare
in the north country fair?
?but your name is shrouded in mist.
Was the love in your heart returned?
or was your true love spurned?
Whether kith or kin
you knew sorrow within?
?but your name is shrouded in mist.
You died and were buried beneath
with honour and jewels?and grief.
Your people remained
true to your fame?
?but your name is shrouded in mist.
You lie in your bed ?neath the soil,
a princess of Saxon blood royal.
Your kinfolk kept faith
to the words that you sayeth?
?but your name is shrouded in mist.
You lie ?neath the hill to the east
in fields ploughed by horses and beasts.
You?ve witnessed the scene
of man and machine?
?but your name is shrouded in mist.
The Loftus Saxon Princess