The Pagan Lady necklace of Peel Castle (Isle of Man)

The Pagan Lady necklace of Peel Castle (Isle of Man)

• Number of beads : 52
• Polychrome beads
• Hand made work (Unique piece)
• Material : glass
• Geographical zone : Peel Castle (Isle of Man)
• Period : 950

The grave of the Pagan Lady of Peel Castle is one of the richest Viking Age female burials outside of Scandinavia.

Around 950 AD, a female was buried with her worldly goods on the Isle of Man. From a time when Vikings ruled the land and seas, it is more common to find male burials with status symbols. However, the Pagan Lady was buried in a Christian cemetery with this fine necklace.

The beads came from far and wide - Britain and Europe - and some were 300 years old when the Pagan Lady wore the necklace.

The burial demonstrates not only the real existence of powerful and high status females in a period of history that is usually dominated by the males, but also the ancient appreciation of ornamentation, of personal decoration - of pretty things. A question remains over who she was.

Other burial goods have been interpreted as domestic trappings - she was the head of the home. But perhaps she was also something else - a wise woman, a healer, a shaman.

This necklace is recreated according the archaeological find from Peel Castle.

Source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/VUFZsfVsQZmRGRnMR8vdP

This Viking necklace consists of 52 handmade glass beads. Among them there are three mosaic glass beads.

The beads are threaded on a linen string in a natural colour. This necklace is provided with a closure system made up of a loop that encloses a bead.

All beads are hand-made, making this necklace a unique piece.