A man's grave

Around AD 650

One man was buried with precious items carefully placed around him: a ring on his finger, a glass cup and a bowl at his feet. He may well have been Christian, as he was buried facing east. However, his family and friends continued the pagan tradition of placing treasures in the graves of important people.

The man was buried with a glass cup and copper alloy bowl at his feet

Glass 'palm' cup

With its rounded base, this cup may have been held in the palm of the hand and used for drinking at feasts or special occasions. Another 'palm' cup was found at St Martin-in-the-Fields many years ago and is on display in the Museum of London's Medieval London gallery.

Copper alloy hanging bowl

Hanging bowl reconstructed

The bowl was made from sheet copper alloy, which has mostly vanished through corrosion, leaving only the ornamental fittings. These comprised a two roundels and two (from an original set of three) handle attachments or 'escutcheons'. The roundels fitted to the bottom of the bowl, one inside and the other outside, while the escutcheons were soldered just below the rim to hold the chains from which the bowl will have been suspended.

The fittings are richly decorated with 'Celtic' designs in red enamel and tin or silver. The bowl contained hazelnuts, which may have symbolised hope and new life.