Corinium volunteer and work experience student Elliott Masefield explores the intricate beauty of a 1,300-year-old gold pendant
This Anglo-Saxon pendant, of gold set with garnets, is perhaps the finest example of Anglo-Saxon metalworking in the museum’s collection. It possesses that unique capacity of Anglo-Saxon metalwork to amaze; one cannot help but be struck by the artistic beauty of such an item, and the incredible skill of its maker.
When looking at this piece, one must consider its maker, a smith without modern magnifying tools, or modern precision instruments. The subtle details of this piece, some almost invisible at first glance, were worked without the aid of artificial light.
Even after a thousand years, the detail of the goldwork is perfectly preserved; the fiery garnets still shine with a fascinating lustre. This is a deeply individual piece, belonging to a person of unique significance. Perhaps that contributes to the magical quality of Anglo-Saxon art, to know that each piece is entirely unique and held special significance for its mysterious owner.
So, who was the owner of this fantastic pendant?
The piece was excavated in the Butler’s Field cemetery, in the upper Thames Valley. It belonged to a woman around 35-40 years of age, and was buried with her. As this pendant is an item of great value, the woman was clearly of some status in the community.
As an archaeological site, Butler’s Field cemetery is unique, in that it actually comprises two separate cemeteries. One, a later cemetery, was built on top of an earlier one. The earlier cemetery dates to 450-600 AD, while the latter dates to the later 7th and early 8th centuries. The woman’s grave was part of the later cemetery.
In the time of the first Butler’s Field cemetery, Anglo-Saxon England was a pagan land, where Germanic Gods such as Thunor and Woden (Thor and Odin) were feared and worshipped by the Saxon tribes. In contrast, the later cemetery dates to a time when Christianity had become dominant in Anglo-Saxon England. At the end of the 6th century, beginning with Æthelbert of Kent, the Saxon kings and chiefs converted to Christianity, with their subjects following suit.
For a Christian cemetery, however, the later Butler’s Field site possesses many unusual features. No other Christian cemetery from the period was ever built on top of a pagan cemetery, as most Christian tribes wished to distance themselves from their heathen ancestors. Though the later Butler’s Field graves face Northwest to Southeast, as is typical of Christian graves, many also contain grave goods. This, of course, includes the owner of the pendant. Grave goods were contrary to Christian practice.
