When we arrived we learnt about how artefacts are discovered and were shown how a metal detector works.
We split into three groups to find out more about the lives and traditions of Anglo-Saxon and Viking people.
Our group went first to the Anglo-Saxon gallery with a historian, George, to find out about the work of archaeologists. We talked about what the Anglo-Saxons did when people died and learnt that they were either burned (cremated) or buried. We looked at a female Anglo-Saxon skeleton and saw the things which were buried with the body: a bead necklace, cuff links and rings.
We designed our own Anglo-Saxon burials with the precious things we would like to keep with us.
Then we went to look at some of the artefacts in the cases.
Here are some Anglo-Saxon cremation pots:
On our way to the next activity we passed through an exhibition of East Anglian wildlife...
Then we met up with Aldith and she told us how important jewellery was to the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.
We talked about the natural materials they would have used such as bone (needles), leather (shoes, bags, hats) and the raised patterns that decorated their artefacts.
We looked at jewellery designs:
Aldith showed us how to make a brooch. First we designed a pattern using string on card...
Then we put thick foil over the brooch and smoothed it down onto the glue using a cotton bud.
Then we cut around the edge of the brooches.
And stuck on some acrylic jewels as decoration.
Here are a couple of beautiful examples of completed brooches!
In our third session we got to look at replicas of ancient artefacts that were originally made 1,500 years ago!
We looked at different objects and tried to decide what they were. We were told that one of them was an actual Anglo-Saxon piece. We had to be very careful with them and the children asked some very interesting questions and made some good observations.
After we had given our best guesses we talked about what the objects actually were. Luda explained that many items had symbols on them which were from the Christian and Pagan religions which were both worshipped simultaneously during Anglo-Saxon times. The hammer represents Thor, the Viking god of thunder. The replica below is a mould used to make symbolic objects such as jewellery.
The item below is a manicure set with nail clippers and sticks to clean out your ears.
We also saw sewing kits, symbolic keys, dice and coins (amongst other things!). The keys were worn by women who were in charge of money and the household.
The tray below is full of original artefacts.
The original artefact we handled was a weight used in weaving (see the circular objects in the bottom right of the above photograph).
After lunch we went and did some sketching in the natural history exhibition...
...and here we all are!
Thank you to Mrs Andrew for organising our great day out and also to our volunteer helpers Mrs Aitken, Mr Powell and Mrs Noble.
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