Anglo Saxon Garnet Pendant

iBase ID

17443

Title

Description

Anglo Saxon Garnet Pendant

An Anglo-Saxon gold and garnet pendant. The garnet is shield-shaped, and the pendant has been designed to fit the garnet. Found near Sapcote with a metal detector.

LCC ID. No.

X.A35.2005.0.0

Image Use

Personal use only unless otherwise agreed

Notes

Gold and garnet pendant from a necklace. The pendant is in the shape of an elongated [straight topped] shield and is designed to fit the garnet. It is made up of a thin back plate to which a narrow swaged loop is soldered. The garnet is set directly on the back plate with no foil backing. It is held in a poorly made dogtooth collar which is itself surrounded by a fine-beaded wire frame. The garnet is large and is cabochon cut with a highly polished surface.

Report by A Care Evans: "The garnet is a rare example of a low cut cabochon bar and is a reused stone that probably dates from the first half of the fifth century. It, like many other stones, would have been originally set into high status military gear that was current in the Black Sea region in the fifth century."

This is a typical yet precious Anglo-Saxon ornament from Sapcote, Blaby. This one is an early example of recycling as the stone is of a type used in much earlier artefacts.

Object Location: Charnwood Museum
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Exhibitions with this image

Anglo Saxon Garnet Pendant
Date: Early 7th Century

Object Details:
This object comprises of a wonderful garnet set in pure gold with a patterned surface below it to scatter the light. It would have been worn by a female of high status. She may have worn it at the centre of a string of beads secured to a brooch on each of her shoulders, rather than on a gold chain as we would.

The stone, which is an unusual shape, is a rare object described as a 'low cut Cabochon bar'. The British Museum thinks that the stone dates to the late fifth century (450-500), but the pendant was made in the early 7th century (600-650). Its shape suggests that it was originally fitted into military gear which was fashionable in the Black sea region (the area north of Turkey), at that time. We will never know exactly where it was first made, or whether it travelled to England as a warrior's decoration. Perhaps it was given to his sweetheart as a love token?

However it came into being, this object shows that re-cycling is not a modern concern as well as the widespread trade or travel occurring in the early medieval period.

Amendment: This object was discovered in the Sapcote Parish, close to Sharnford.

Object Location: Charnwood Museum
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For further information about the artefacts depicted please contact: museums@leics.gov.uk

Object Location: Charnwood Museum
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Subjects

Archaeology > Artefacts

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2013-10-17 10:35:17