The Anglo-Saxons Period 4A Part 1 The Treasure of Sutton Hoo Ground-Breaking Glimpse into Anglo-Saxon Life
Sutton Hoo is a structure comprised of several (18) burialmounds. The mounds were first examined by Archeologist Basil Brown in The excavation was short-lived with the oncoming war and theburial mounds were explored further in the 1980s. The second mound which held the greatest number of treasures,including a ship, had been spared from grave robbers. Residual phosphate in the mound indicates that there may havebeen a corpse buried in the mound. The grave is believed to have belonged to one of four EastAnglian Kings, but is believed to be high-ranking members ofAnglo-Saxon society with the 1980 excavation of smallersurrounding graves, making the complex a high-caste cemetery. Several of the graves show evidence of human sacrifice. One of the recent spoils of the burialmounds include a shield and whatappears to be some sort of scepter. The original 1938 excavationproduced small luxury items like goldfibulas and a cloisonn purse cover. Additionally the aforementionedpurse contained several Merovingiancoins. The ship also housed silver Byzantinebowls and iron ones of Celticcreation. The Sutton Hoo excavation and thetreasures uncovered from themounds provides a new insight intothe effects of cultural diffusionduring the Anglo-Saxon Period in theform of common conventions ininsular/Hiberno-Saxon art as well asgiving a glimpse to the uniquecultural context of Anglo-Saxon life. A ship was hauled up from the river, a burialchamber was erected in the middle of it, and astupendous collection of magnificent objects goldand silver brooches and dishes, the sword of state,drinking horns and a lyre was set in the burialchamber. -Current Archeology, May 2007. Anglo Saxon weapons By Tarran Mead 4A
Anglo Saxon armies only consisted of about 250soldiers, even a kings escort only consisted of about 50soldiers. Spears and spearheads are found at 86% percent ofburials. There are about 30 different types of spearheads thathave been found. A Scramseax (or a seax) is a type of utility knife that theAnglo Saxons used, it is very similar to the buoy knife.Used to carve, fight, eat, etc. Almost every warrior of the time carried a Seax Axes werent commonly used as weapons but wereintroduced to fighting by Vikings. The typical fighting axe was more of hatchet; small,wooden handled and the user would carry multiplehatchets, the larger two handed axe was rarely used,but very effective with its weight. (See picture to theupper right corner to see size variation) Projectile weapons of the time period included Javelins,bow and arrows, slings, and any bulk and heavy objectthat could be thrown. There were many variations ofarrowheads found at burials (left) Swords of the period had hilts and handlesunique to the age and land (see picture) thisdesign is found in most swords. It was more common to use a shorter, lighter,easier to handle sword for combat. Warriors were always buried with theirweapons When I am dead, lay me in a mound.Place my weapons by my side, for the journeyto up high Runes to my memory Though considered brutal or thick skulled,Vikings were ahead of their time in terms ofweapons and engineering. All of their weaponswere more effective, stronger and longerlasting. Extra: Blood Eagle, was a gruesome form oftorture that Vikings used. The process isrestraining the victim, ripping the skin off theirbacks, cracking open their ribs and extendingthem to the sides like wings (hence the eaglepart of the name) and remove the lungs. All ofthis, while the person is still alive and breathingand suffocating without their lungs. Anglo-Saxon Clothing Varied Region, Varied Style
MEN Men wore linen or wool long sleeved undershirts,trousers, and a tunic on top. They wore belts which held their knives, pouchesand other accessories. Their shoes were usually a single piece of leatherfastened with laces or toggles. They started wearing cloaks and socks during the7th century. WOMEN Women wore wool or linen long sleeved under- dresses with a dress on top called peplos. The dresses often went down to their ankles andcovered their neck and head They decorated their dresses with necklaces,rings and bracelets Their shoes were a single piece of leather, oftenworn with socks It was their job to stay home and make clothes CHILDREN Children often wore the same clothes as adults,just in smaller sizes For clothing all wear a cloak, fastened with a clasp, or in its absence, a thorn: they spend whole days on a hearth round the fire with no other covering. The richest men are distinguished by the wearing of under-clothes; not loose like those of the Parthians and Sarmatians, but drawn tight, throwing each limb into relief. By: Maddy Rupert Anglo-Saxon Jewelry Art and Artifacts
The tastes of the Anglo-Saxons were never very different from the tastes in the mainland. The price of gold was part of the attraction. At the gravesite the amount and quality of the jewelry determined status. Most jewelry was made from bronze, gold, and silver. Gold and silver were for those of higher class. Anglo-Saxon jewelry has an impact on goldsmiths work today Anglo-Saxon pins were used for fastening up the hair. Anglo-Saxon necklaces are composed of beads of all kinds Fibula: also known as brooches are the most frequent of all Anglo-Saxon ornaments. There were three types of brooches: circular jeweled, cruciform brooches, and concave circular brooches. The type of brooch you wore determined your class. Anglo-Saxon jewelry occupies an exceedingly important position in the history of the goldsmiths art. Settlement of Lindsey By: Allie Duckworth
The settlement of Lindsey was created around 450. Lindsey was based of the roman city of Lincoln. For a long time Lindsey was under control of the Mercian's. They were one of the most isolated settlements because of wetland and thick forests. They called themselves Lindisware then the name evolved into Lindissi and the Lindsey. Lindsey was known as on the of the lesser settlements. Lindsey was located in the northeastern half of the country. The first Viking attack on Lindsey was around 841. The Danish army came in around 873. There was a dispute over Lindsey's land between the Mercians and the Danish. Lindsey was a large island or set of islands with the district of Hatfield to its northwest along with the Isle of Axholme. -Michelle Ziegler Wessex Ancient kingdom
Wessex reached its peak in the ninth and tenth centuries. The victorious forces of Wessex also enforced the submission of Kent, Essex, Sumeyand Sussex. Wessex was increasing its power but England was still politically-divided. England's disunity reduced its ability to withstand the Viking onslaught. Wessex, one of the kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon, whose ruling dynasty eventuallybecame kings of the whole country. The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex is popularly assumed to have originated aroundits later capital, Winchester. Wessex, the dominate and most civilized of the Anglo-Saxon states, ceased to be agovernment entity. The area with which destination Wessex is concerned was recognized in the earlyninth century. The ninth century is when the four West Saxon shires, now counties, were created. In the latter half of the 8th century, Wessex was a mere satellite of Mercia. Quote: Wessex the kingdom of the West Saxons would seem to have its origins in the upperThames valley. This group of Saxons were at first called the Gewisse, and apparently only becameknown as the West Saxons towards the end of 7th century. dot-domesday.me.uk By: Phoebe Langeland KENT The earliest Anlgo-Saxon kingdom
Kent was initially conquered aboutAD 455. It was made up of Germanic Jutes andCeltic Britons, both in equalproportions. The kingdom of Kent wasdistinguished for outstandingcraftsmanship in jewelry, metalwork,and glass. Principle towns in the kingdom wereCanterbury, Dover, and Rochester. King Hengist was the first king ofKent and he was a Jute. The transition to Jutish rule was notpeaceful. Two main battles were fought: Battleof Aylesthrep and Battle ofCreganford. Both battles resulted in the defeat ofthe Britons The last king of Kent was Eadberht III. He was attacked by the king of Mercia,deported there and blinded oncommand of the king. Politically Kent had no high aspirations -The Oxford Companion to British History John Cannon London Davis 4A St. Patrick Beloved Saint and Writer
Saint Patrick was born in 387 A.D. Patrick wasnt interested in religion as a child. He was not born in Ireland, and is not Irish. Experts say he was born in a village called Bannavem Taberniae. He did however grow up in Ireland. At age 16, he was kidnapped and then sold into slavery. After 6 years as a sheep herder in Slavery, he turned to religion because he was afraid. He then became a devout Christian. Saint Patrick wrote his most famous passage named, confessio. He supposedly walked 200 miles to the coast to leave captivity. Saint Patrick, now ordained a Priest, was visited by Angels in England telling him to go back to Ireland. Patrick preached to the people in Ireland for 40 years until his death. He died on March 17, 461 A.D. The Myths made him a idol of Irish pride, so they created a day after him. If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me. St. Augustine Benedict Monk
Became the first Archbishop of Canterbury He is considered the Apostle to the English Founder of the English Church Chosen to lead the Gregorian mission He converted many of king Aethelberhts people He baptized thousands of people during mass on Christmas Day in 597 He was more successful with Pagans than with the Christians He was believed to be born in Rome Died the same year as his mentor, Pope Gregory Buried at SS. Peter and Paul Pray as though everything depended on God.Work as though everything depended on you. St. Augustine By Bailey Moseley Synod of Whitby Religious Conflict
It was a meeting held by the Church of England. It took place in 664 AD. The problem was the difference between Easter observance betweenRomans and Celtics. King Oswy of Northumbria held Easter while his Queen was still fasting,having been brought up under Roman tradition. King Oswy, and Bishops Colman and Chad represented Celtic tradition. Alchfrid, Oswys son, and Bishops Wilfrid and Agilbert represented Romantradition. Colman appealed to the practices of St. John Wilfrid appealed to those of St. Peter. King Oswy decided to side with Wilfrid as he believed St. Peter held thekeys to the Heavens. Not all Celtic churches followed at first, but they followed in due time. I dare not longer contradict the decrees of him who keeps the doors of The Kingdom of Heaven, Lest he should refuse me admission. By Stephen W.