Saturday 15 December 2012

A Little More Festive Fashion

Today's artefact is an ornate and amazing find...

Image taken from The British Museum
 
 
This golden cap was discovered in an ancient burial mound in 1833, by a group of workmen in Mold, Flinshire, Wales.  The cape is beautifully decorated and extremely delicate, it has been painstakingly restored after being crushed upon discovery.  It took many years for all the pieces to be reunited but the British Museum is confident that they now have it all.  The cape was not found alone, some 300 beads were included in the chamber placed around the body, along with a coarse blanket and an urn containing burnt human remains.  I am confident in saying that the cape was not everyday Bronze Age fashion, I am also confident that it was created for a woman due to its size.  The usage of the cape will remain unknown, however, its' form is likely to restrict the movement of the person wearing it.  This suggests that it has a formal and specific role within Bronze Age life, possibly in relation to religious and/or ceremonial activities.  It is the only example known, which makes interpretation increasingly more difficult.  Despite this I am sure like me, you are able to admire the work that has gone into its' creation and the wow factor that it produces.  The cape is currently on display in Gallery 51 of the British Museum.

No comments:

Post a Comment