Harford Farm Brooch facts for kids
The Harford Farm Brooch is a special piece of jewelry from the 7th century. This means it's about 1,300 years old! It's a type of brooch called a disk brooch, which is round and flat. This amazing artifact was made by the Anglo-Saxon people who lived in England a long time ago.
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Discovering the Harford Farm Brooch
The Harford Farm Brooch was found in a place called Harford Farm in Norfolk, England. It was discovered during an archaeological dig. Archaeologists are like history detectives who carefully dig up old sites to learn about the past.
Where Was It Found?
The brooch was found in an ancient Anglo-Saxon cemetery. A cemetery is a burial ground where people were laid to rest. The brooch was specifically found in "grave 11," meaning it was buried with someone important. Many other old items were also found nearby.
How Big Is It?
This beautiful brooch is about 72 millimetres (2.8 in) across. That's roughly the size of a tennis ball or a small coaster.
What Does the Brooch Look Like?
The Harford Farm Brooch is very fancy and shows off the amazing skills of Anglo-Saxon craftspeople.
Front of the Brooch
The front of the brooch is made of shining gold. It's decorated with colorful pieces of glass and sparkling red garnet gemstones. Imagine how it must have looked when it was new!
Back of the Brooch
The back of the brooch is made of silver. It has some very interesting details.
Mysterious Runes
On the back, there's a special message written in Anglo-Saxon runes. Runes were an old alphabet used by the Anglo-Saxons. The inscription reads "ᛚᚢᛞᚪ:ᚷᛁᛒᛟᛏᚫᛋᛁᚷᛁᛚᚫ" (which sounds like luda:gibœtæsigilæ).
Experts have different ideas about what this message means. One idea is that it says, "Luda repaired the brooch." Another suggestion is, "May Luda make amends by means of the brooch." It's like a puzzle from the past!
Animal Decoration
Besides the runes, the back of the brooch also has a scratched drawing of an animal. This type of decoration, showing animals, is called "zoomorphic." It adds another layer of mystery and beauty to this ancient treasure.
Where Can You See It Today?
If you want to see the Harford Farm Brooch for yourself, you can visit Norwich Castle. It's on display there, giving people a chance to connect with history.
