"An archeologist's dream": British archaeologists have found a 1300-year-old gold necklace (11 photos + 1 video)

A unique gold necklace was found in Harpole, Northamptonshire. Archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) surveyed the site construction of a new residential building, when they came across an ancient burial containing a unique piece of jewelry. According to experts, the necklace belonged to a woman of high status - she could have been a member royal family or religious leader.





Although the grave contained other treasures, the necklace is considered the most expensive of its kind discovered in history - it is decorated Roman coins, garnet and semi-precious stones.

Archaeologist MOLA Levente-Bense Balazs, who led the opening group, said: “When the first glimpses of gold, we knew it was something important. However, we are not yet knew how special this find would be.”

“Finding something like this is the dream of any archaeologist,” he told The Guardian.



The necklace dates from the Saxon period, between 630 and 670. ad. It contains at least 30 pendants made of gold, glass and other valuable materials. Large square centerpiece with cruciform motif is made of red garnets in a gold setting, and experts believe that it was originally part of the clasp, which was then attached to a necklace as an ornament.

Using X-ray technology, the scientists also found in grave, two painted pots, a shallow copper dish and a large artfully decorated cross. The latter was decorated with unusual images of human faces cast in silver.





The skeleton itself was completely decomposed, but the experts were able to identify it as female by the preserved tooth enamel. The combination of objects with which the woman was buried allows suggest that she had a high status, for example, was the head abbey or even belonged to the royal family.



The finds were nicknamed the "treasures of Harpol" in honor of their location. Next to the grave was another burial, already without luxury items, but archaeologists have not been able to find anything else remarkable in this place.





Although similar decorations of that time had previously been found in other regions of England, the Harpole necklace is by far the most richly decorated Archaeologists are sure that at the construction site of a new there is nothing else to look for at home, but now they are working to keep all the "treasures of Harpol" intact. They also reveal traces organic remains in the burial and on the surface of artifacts that can reveal new details about the life of an aristocrat or her funeral ritual.







Simon Mortimer, RPS archaeologist who works with developer Vistry Group, said: “This find is really lucky once in a lifetime is what you read about in textbooks, not what you expect to see in the ground at your feet.”

Liz Mordue, advisor for archeology at the Western Council Northamptonshire, concluded: “This is an exciting find that sheds light on the significance of Northamptonshire in the Saxon period. She is also serves as a reminder of the importance of archeology in the planning and construction".