Archaeologists excavating near Northampton, UK, have found a magnificent 1,300-year-old necklace made up of at least 30 pendants and beads made of Roman coins, gold, garnets, glass, and semi-precious stones. Scientists say  it’s a “once-in-a-lifetime” gold necklace that was “internationally important.”  According to experts, the exceptional necklace is the “richest of its type ever uncovered in Britain.”

The 1,300-year-old necklace was found in an early medieval burial site in Northamptonshire. Credit: MOLA

Dating back to 630-670 A.D., the necklace was discovered in a grave of a woman who may have been royalty. The skeleton itself has fully decomposed (except for tiny fragments of tooth enamel). However, it’s evident from the expensive stones adorning the necklace its owner must have been a person of high status. Researchers say that she could have been an abbess, royalty, or perhaps both.

How it looked when archaeologists saw the precious necklace. Credit: MOLA

The valuable necklace was found by archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (Mola) during excavations ahead of a housing development in Harpole, west of Northampton.

“When the first glints of gold started to emerge from the soil, we knew this was something significant. However, we didn’t quite realize how special this was going to be.
We are lucky to be able to use modern methods of analysis on the finds and surrounding burial to gain a much deeper insight into the life of this person and their final rites,”  Levente-Bence Balazs, who led a team of five from Mola said.

An artist’s impression shows what the grave of the high-status woman may have looked like. Credit: MOLA

“A rectangular pendant with a cross motif forms the centerpiece of the necklace and is the largest and most intricate element. Made of red garnets set in gold, MOLA specialists believe it was originally half of a hinged clasp before it was re-used.

Experts believe this is ‘the most significant female burial from the era ever discovered in Britain.

The necklace comprises 30 pendants and beads made from Roman coins, gold, and semi-precious stones. Credit: MOLA

Other findings include decorated pots, a copper dish and a decorated cross with depictions of human faces cast in silver. Credit: MOLA

The find is being dubbed by architects as the ‘Harpole Treasure’ and is set to feature on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain in January, where Professor Alice Roberts will be getting an exclusive look at the extraordinary find and delving deeper,” the Northhampton Chronicle reports.

Experts said some similar necklaces from this time have been previously unearthed in other regions of England, but none are as ornate as the “Harpole Treasure.”

“We are lucky to be able to use modern methods of analysis on the finds and surrounding burial to gain a much deeper insight into the life of this person and their final rites.”

“This find is truly a once-in-a-lifetime discovery – the sort of thing you read about in textbooks and not something you expect to see coming out of the ground in front of you,” RPS Archaeology consultant Simon Mortime said.

A MOLA spokesman added: “The burial also contained two decorated pots and a shallow copper dish. However, x-rays taken on blocks of soil lifted from the grave revealed a further tantalizing find – a striking and elaborately decorated cross, featuring highly unusual depictions of human faces cast in silver. The soil blocks are currently being micro-excavated by MOLA conservators, but this large and ornate piece suggests the woman may have been an early Christian leader.”

“This is an exciting find which will shed considerable light on the significance of Northamptonshirein the Saxon period. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of archaeology in the planning and development process,” Liz Mordue, archaeological advisor for North Northamptonshire Council, said.

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Daniel Oliver, regional technical director at Vistry west midlands, says the artifacts will be gifted to the nation, and any rights to the treasure have been waived.

Having surveyed the entire site, archaeologists are confident there is nothing else to find. Investigations into the findings will continue.