1,500-year-old pendant discovered in secret Norfolk location
A piece of early medieval jewellery that laid buried for almost 1,500 years has been declared an official treasure.
Discovered by a metal detectorist, the 7th-century oval pendant consisting of gold and a cabochon garnet was found in north Norfolk during October last year.
A treasure inquest held at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard that the piece is 'relatively small but beautifully made'.
A gold and garnet pendant found in north Norfolk last year (Image: Norfolk County Council) Made sometime between c600AD and c700AD, it is an example of a well-known pendant type of that era.
Its inspiration comes from Hellenistic jewellery, which is said to have a very classical, restrained appearance.
The Hellenistic period, spanning from 323 BC to 30 BC, marked a significant era in ancient history and was characterised by the spread of Greek culture across a vast empire established by Alexander the Great.
The pendant itself is constructed on a gold backplate, which has a border of thick beaded wire, flanked by a pair of slim plain wires, around the edge.
The beading has been made with a swage or "beading file" - a tool which probably had a single groove flanked by teeth.
On the reverse, the backplate is dented and hollowed in the centre.
The gem is a very neatly shaped and highly polished cabochon which, although very dark, appears reddish.
Dr Helen Geake (Image: Newsquest) A report from archaeologist Helen Geake, the county's finds liaison officer, was read to the court, based at County Hall in Norwich. In it, Dr Geake said the gem was 'probably a garnet'.
It total, the piece weighs 1.90g, which is around the same weight of a pomegranate.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show there were 132 treasure finds declared to coroners in 2024 in Norfolk.
This was more than the year before, when there were 95.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Are you a victim of ‘dry begging'? Here's how to make sure passive-aggressive manipulation doesn't ruin your relationship
Even in the healthiest of relationships, conflicts are bound to arise. But how you deal with them speaks volumes about the strength of your bond. Passive-aggressive phrases like 'I guess I'll just do all of the laundry this week' or 'most people would be happy their partner does this' are prime examples of 'dry begging,' a phenomenon that couples counselors, therapists and other mental health experts are starting to call out. Advertisement Uncomfortable as it can get, direct communication is the leading way experts recommend dealing with dry begging. oulaphone_00168 'Dry begging operates by exploiting social cues and emotional signals rather than making direct requests,' explains Darren Magee, an accredited UK-based counselor, in a YouTube video that has since amassed almost half a million views. 'It usually involves dropping hints, displaying some kind of need or vulnerability, or making emotional demonstrations,' Magee elaborates. 'All of these are aimed at creating a sense of obligation in others.' Advertisement Whether the person dry-begging realizes it or not, the tactic creates a situation where the other party feels compelled to help or agree — essentially preying on empathy. 'The key to a healthy, long-term relationship is the ability of a couple to communicate and understand the other on a deeply vulnerable level where each person lets their guard down,' relationship therapist Hope Kelaher tells Brides. 'Taking a passive-aggressive stance is the exact opposite: In worst-case scenarios, I have seen it not only leads to communication breakdown, but to increased conflict, partner withdrawal, mistrust, confusion, poor self-esteem, and, in the worst cases, the end of a relationship.' Advertisement Though it's not an expression you'll find in psychology or counseling textbooks, it's a surprisingly common move that you or your partner may not even realize you're doing. On a Reddit thread that broached the topic of the relatively new term, one user was shocked to find that dry begging is more common in relationships than many would assume. 'When I saw this a few days ago, my reaction was, 'Wait, there's a word for that?!?!'' they replied under the original post. Magee suggests that while sometimes dry begging is unconscious behavior that stems from a fear of rejection or worries over coming across as a burden, it is also a tactic of emotional manipulation that narcissists often employ. Advertisement 'Narcissists generally have a fragile self-image that they want to protect. Asking for help directly might make them look or feel vulnerable, weak or dependent. These are traits they might associate with inferiority. 'Dry begging allows them to hint at their needs without compromising their sense of superiority or self-sufficiency,' he adds. Excessive dry begging can often drive wedges between people, leading to neglect or avoidance. That being said, in many relationships — whether they're platonic, familial or romantic — people are unaware of their own red flags. Dry begging 'is not always manipulative — it certainly can be — but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. First, look at what's the intention, and is it a pattern,' Aerial Cetnar, a therapist and owner of Boulder Therapy and Wellness in Colorado, tells HuffPost. 'It's common that people are not really taught how to ask for things in a way that's really clear and direct,' Cetnar continues. 'Sometimes they resort to dry begging because it feels like it's a hint and they'd rather it be a hint that gets rejected than a clear ask to be rejected.' Experts agree that when a pattern of manipulation arises, even if it seems as subtle as dry begging on occasion, it may be time to have an open conversation about the issue and seek help from a professional to resolve it. Any pattern of behavior is difficult to break, but whether you or your partner is the dry beggar in question, experts advise, it's an important step to recognize that people can't read minds. Communication, in other words, is key. Advertisement Identifying the presence of dry begging in a relationship is only the first step to mending damage done by passive-aggressive manipulation. The Bay Area Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Center suggests engaging in a grounded, calm conversation that can prevent triggering a defensive reaction from either party — avoiding blame is important, according to experts at the center. From there, Magee and Cetnar both emphasize that setting boundaries, engaging in direct communication, seeking personalized professional guidance, and, if necessary, evaluating the status of the relationship itself are excellent next steps to preventing future dry-begging incidents.
CNN
11 hours ago
- CNN
Maritime mystery solved after shipwreck discovered off UK coast
A 19th century ship that sank nearly 140 years ago has been found 'frozen in time' off Britain's coast. Twenty-three crew members died when the SS Nantes sank off the coast of Cornwall in November 1888, but the whereabouts of the wreck have remained a mystery – until now. The incredible discovery was made after deep sea diver Dom Robinson found a piece of crockery amid the watery remains. Back on land, Robinson, 53, saw the broken plate bore the stamp 'Cunard Steamship Company,' which helped identify the stricken vessel through information available online. It turned out he and a team of fellow divers had been exploring the SS Nantes, which had been a 14-year-old cargo ship at the time of its demise, according to Harry Bennett, a history professor and maritime expert from the University of Plymouth. 'Nantes is one of those vessels that's been known about but has been lost for a long period of time,' he told CNN Friday. Conditions were poor that fateful day when the steam ship was hit by German sailing vessel Theodor Ruger. 'It pierces the side of the Nantes and tears a big hole into its side,' said Bennett. 'For several hours, the crew tried to save their ship using all manner of materials to try and fill the hole, including mattresses. But eventually they lose that fight and the ship goes down very rapidly.' The two boats were 'briefly locked together' before sinking, Bennett said. The collision damaged Nantes' lifeboats, which meant the crew were unable to escape. Only three people survived, including one man found at sea and two who jumped off the ship. 'The Theodor Ruger also goes down but her lifeboats are in better condition, so even though she loses a few crew members, the majority get away in lifeboats and are saved – including two guys who scrambled off the Nantes,' Bennett added. Robinson, who shared the story on his YouTube channel, told CNN the wreck was discovered at a depth of 75 meters (246 feet) in the English Channel, 30 miles south-east of Plymouth last Fall. 'When you go down on wrecks, you look for things that might identify them,' Robinson said. 'It was right at the end of my dive and I'd found nothing so was a bit despondent.' But then he saw the broken plate, which proved to be a 'massive clue towards identifying' the vessel, he said. When Robinson dived the site again earlier this year, a second plate branded with the logo was found. Together with other details of the wreck – such as its build and dimension – the plate helped confirm the ship's identity. 'Every wreck is a time capsule,' Bennett said. 'When that wreck goes down, things are frozen in time, in the mud and in the surrounding areas. We get these little insights into what life onboard must have been like. The idea that you're looking at a plate that crewmen might have had their last meal on is very, very poignant. 'We suddenly find ourselves revisiting a tragedy from 1888, of coming to terms with that kind of horror that tells us a story about life in the maritime world in the late 19th century.' Part of the motivation for deep diving on shipwrecks is the detective work, as well as the opportunity to explore final frontiers, Robinson said. 'For a normal person like myself, there is nowhere left to explore – there's no more mountains left to go to, no more continents that haven't been found. The only place where you can do something completely out of the ordinary is to go to the bottom of the sea and explore and find things and identify them,' he added. 'I get a huge buzz out of that and in the UK we are so fortunate because around our shores are probably more wrecks than anywhere else in the world. I could probably dive every day for the rest of my life on a new wreck.'
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Family's message as they hit back at party claims in neighbourhood row
A row over a balcony to allow a mother and daughter to sit together came to a head as neighbours complained the extension would rob them of light. Plans for a number of changes to 33 Beacon Drive in Newton near West Kirby on the Wirral were approved by a Wirral Council planning committee on June 5. This included a two storey side extension, a single storey rear extension and balcony, front porch, and changes to a garden including a new patio. The plans were put forward to allow a family to care for an elderly relative with some of the changes designed to make the house more accessible. Two people in favour of the development said it would be a positive contribution to the area. However the plans came under fire from 27 neighbours as well as West Kirby councillor Jenny Johnson. READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold's 'generous' act as lasting gift to Liverpool confirmed READ MORE: Police swarm area as boy, 15, 'seen with gun' The main concerns raised included overlooking and privacy with the extension described as 'overbearing and dominating' and a balcony they claimed towered over its neighbours. At the planning committee meeting, two neighbours spoke against the plans. They argued it would cause lasting harm to neighbours, arguing the wrong house had been bought. One neighbour said it had been 'the most stressful nine months for us' as they had battled against the plans, adding: 'It will rob us of light and loom over our heads when we are outside.' He claimed that 'whenever we go outside we will wonder who is looking down on us.' Cllr Johnson urged councillors to refuse the plans but if they were to approve it, they should make sure the balcony couldn't be extended further. She told the committee: 'This is one of the worst cases I have come across in my time as a councillor.' Challenging these claims was Emma Breen, speaking on behalf of the applicant. She said it was a household application for a family home that would allow multiple generations to live together and allow a family member to be cared for. She argued each house in the area was different. Responding to claims the balcony would be used for parties, she said: 'This is a personal, household development. The balcony for example was never meant for parties. 'It was a way for the applicant and her mother, who is no longer able to travel, to enjoy a quiet moment together while overlooking the water. In truth, the revised balcony is now so reduced that accommodating this would be difficult.' She also claimed that some neighbours had been approached directly to support objections. She argued the process must 'remain fair and impartial when essential care needs are at stake.' Following a debate, committee chair Cllr Stuart Kelly said there was no doubt the type of application before them was difficult, adding: 'It isn't about 'there can't be any views into any neighbouring properties in an urban area'. That would be ridiculous.' He added: 'It's whether it is to an unacceptable degree. At my house, if I look out of my rear bedroom windows, I have got a fairly clear view of most of my neighbour's gardens as it stands.' Councillors voted to unanimously approve the application with a condition including restricting the size of the balcony. In the same meeting, a seven-bed house of multiple occupation was also refused on Serpentine Road in Liscard following a number of concerns raised by local councillor Graeme Cooper. Councillors from all parties criticised the fact changes had been made to the building to accommodate seven bedrooms and called for standards to be maintained. Cllr Paul Stuart said: 'This can only be described as trying to pile them in and pack them as high as possible to get as much out of a smaller space.'
