p291.bsky.social
@p291.bsky.social
Chatted to my friend Matt Bunker who commented "I've never been happy with the mid/late 7th century date. The buckles could be anytime in the 7th century and swords are usually replaced by large seaxes in burials once you get past the early 7th
Id say 1st quarter 7th. A shame there's no boss"
December 20, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Earlier would be very exciting. I can't think of any parallels in UK or Continental Europe for the Wollaston helmet design being earlier though, unlike the Shorwell helmet with its European bandenhelm parallels.
December 20, 2025 at 8:26 AM
My copy of Hines' Anglo-Saxon Graves and Grave Goods of the 6th and 7th Centuries AD: A Chronological Framework
2013 is not to hand unfortunately... . It would be good to have a fuller metallurgical analysis of the helmet (as per the Yarm helmet). Helmet design ambiguous? So probable 7th century??
December 20, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Agree , the evidence is slender though I would add to the buckle evidence for the 7th century the hanging bowl and that it was a furnished burial (a practice some see as ending after Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury from AD 669–690).
December 20, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Well, that one is straight on my Christmas list! @tobyfmartin.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Great research. I've been involved in the recreation of the Long Wittenham hall ( pic below) based on the original footings and there would also be a practical benefit in reducing drafts especially if placed to overlap the eaves the walls meet the roof?
December 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Know the feeling! This mosaic from Sanliurfa in Turkey is a new one to me- 5th/ 6th century and depicting a (possibly) Germanic infantryman. Would you happen to know the context of this mosaic and what else is depicted?
December 18, 2025 at 7:56 PM