The unusual lead parcel contains two exquisite gold ‘lock-rings’, which were likely worn as jewellery in hair or clothing.
The museum will need to raise £40,000 as the reward value of these Treasure objects so it can then preserve and display them to the public.
“The discovery of this exceptional object and associated finds helps to deepen our understanding of Bronze Age Britain and confirms that Shropshire has an important story to tell.”Īssociated finds include an exceptionally rare jewellery parcel wrapped in lead, which is believed to be one of the first records of using this material, together with hoards which have the potential to date the transition between Bronze and Iron Ages. “The Shropshire sun pendant is an unparalleled find of International significance,” says Fay Bailey, Shropshire Museums Manager.
#Bronze age mythology full
The other objects will help tell the complete story of ancient Shropshire, give visitors an insight into the full historic story of the local Bronze Age landscape and an opportunity to admire their extraordinary craftsmanship close to where they were deposited and found thousands of years later. In Ireland, six similar gold pendants have been found, though these are not identical to this gold pendant.Īt the same time, Shrewsbury also hopes to acquire other archeologically significant Bronze Age objects from the same findspot and is launching a crowdfunding campaign to display them alongside the sun pendant. Last recorded in 1806 before disappearing from records, curators hope it may one day be rediscovered in a private collection. Its quality was so high that experts of the day believed it must be Roman. The other Irton bulla – now lost – was discovered near Manchester in 1722 and is only known from a picture. Measuring 3.6cm high and 4.7cm wide, the bulla is only the second ever found in Britain. Solar symbolism was a key element of mythology and belief in the Bronze Age and the pendant celebrates the life-giving power of the sun during the time of the earliest metalworkers.Ī hugely significant addition to knowledge of the art and iconography of Bronze Age Britain, experts say the pendant marks the end of an era as one of the final expressions of an art style and belief system that had lasted for almost 1,500 years.ĭeposited intentionally in a wetland landscape of bogs and ponds 3,000 years ago, the pendant provides a starting point for discussions about the role of both water and the sun in the religious beliefs and life in deep history.
0 kommentar(er)
