Anglo-Saxon jewelry often featured intricate designs with interlacing patterns, animal motifs, and the use of colored gemstones. Items like brooches, rings, and armlets were common finds in both royal and aristocratic graves, and these items were sometimes used to signify a person's rank, accomplishments, or social ties.
The Role of Treasure in Anglo-Saxon Society
The treasures of the Anglo-Saxons were not just material possessions; they held deep cultural and religious significance. Much of the gold and silver found in Anglo-Saxon burials was associated with the elite members of society—kings, nobles, and warriors—and these treasures were often buried with the deceased as symbols of status and wealth. Many of the treasures found in burial sites were accompanied by weapons, armor, and other items that reflected the martial nature of Anglo-Saxon society.
Christianity, which began to spread throughout the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 6th and 7th centuries, also influenced the design and symbolism of Anglo-Saxon treasures. Items like crosses, chalices, and reliquaries were created for religious purposes, often incorporating Christian iconography. One such item is the Lindisfarne Gospels, an illuminated manuscript created in the early 8th century, which is considered a masterpiece of Anglo-Saxon religious art. shutdown123