Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – Last year, archaeologists excavating near Northampton, UK, made an extraordinary discovery. The research team unearthed a magnificent 1,300-year-old necklace made up of at least 30 pendants and beads made of Roman coins, gold, garnets, glᴀss, and semi-precious stones. The discovery caused great excitement; scientists said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime” gold necklace that was “internationally important.”  According to experts, the exceptional necklace is the “richest of its type ever uncovered in Britain.”

The 1,300-year-old necklace was found in an early medieval burial site in Northamptonshire. Credit: MOLA

The Museum of London Archaeology at Harpole, Northamptonshire, in England’s Midlands, announced the necklace had been found in an astonishing Christian burial of the seventh century, a period when the religion was relatively new in England.

At the time of the discovery, it was reported that the deceased was buried in a wooden bed. However, conditions were so poor that nearly all organic material had decomposed, leaving only fragments of teeth for analysis. Experts believed it was unlikely the remains could provide scientific evidence for the individual’s Sєx. However, the burial type and jewelry are consistent with a feminine burial between  30 A.D. and 670 A.D.

The most logical ᴀssumption was that the Harpole Burial belonged to a powerful woman.  Some have already speculated that the woman from Harpole was an abbess or princess.

Her mourners clearly acknowledged her special status. But the fact that her grave lay outside any known monastic complex rules out any automatic argument that she was an abbess. So, who was the woman put to rest in the Anglo-Saxon burial?

Amazing finds were made in the Harpole burial. Credit: MOLA

One month after archaeologists had unearthed the remarkable necklace, another artifact was found in the Harpole Burial.

“The burial also contained two decorated pots and a shallow copper dish. However, x-rays taken on blocks of soil lifted from the grave revealed a further tantalizing find – a striking and elaborately decorated cross, featuring highly unusual depictions of human faces cast in silver. The soil blocks are currently being micro-excavated by MOLA conservators, but this large and ornate piece suggests the woman may have been an early Christian leader,” a MOLA spokesman said.

The research team recovered a unique Medieval silver cross that was still encased in earth.

Harpole burial treasures. Credit: MOLA

One year has pᴀssed since the discovery of the Harpole Burial and its magnificent Anglo-Saxon treasure. During this time, scientists continued to work on the findings and now have some more clues that may shed light on the idenтιтy of the Anglo-Saxon woman and the objects found in the grave.

All recovered artifacts have been cleaned and examined by experts in a lab. Researchers have focused on trying to determine how the Harople treasures had been made. The necklace was, of course, of special interest. One of the key questions was to find out whether the coin pendants were original Roman coins or imitations made specifically for the necklace.

To learn more about the silver cross, experts had to rely on micro-excavations, a technique where whole blocks of soil are lifted from a site to be excavated under controlled lab conditions.

The results showed that “a central cross is decorated with a smaller gold cross, which has a large garnet and four smaller garnets. At the end of each arm are smaller circular crosses made of silver, with garnet and gold centres. These are very similar to the pectoral crosses found in other high status female burials from this time, including the Trumpington burial. The use of these crosses within one larger cross, however, is unique and suggests the individual may have held a very special position within the Christian community,” MOLA announced in a press release.

The next step is to identify the type of wood used, and better understand how the cross was constructed.

Who Was The Individual Found In The Harpole Burial?

A reconstruction of the Harpole burial. Credit: MOLA / Hugh Gatt

“Whilst initially it was believed only a few fragments of teeth had survived, work on another soil block has unearthed further fragments of the individual’s skeleton. Our osteologists have identified the upper part of a femur, part of the pelvic bone, some vertebrae and part of a hand and wrist. These lay underneath a crushed copper dish placed within the grave – the metal slowing the decay of the 1,300-year-old organic material.

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We currently believe that these are likely to be the human remains of a woman, based on comparable burials from the period. Early analysis indicates the skeleton belonged to a young adult, which also matches other high status female burials from this period. Through further tests, we hope we can reveal details such as where she grew up and confirming biological Sєx,” MOLA archaeologists said.

Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer