I Dig Sheffield | Digging around Sheffield and the Peaks

Fragments of enamelled escutcheon from Benty Grange

Object glossary

Anglo-Saxon
430-1070 AD. The country was divided into a number of warring kingdoms. The richer people liked gold and silver jewellery. They buried their dead in barrows. Christianity was introduced from the continent and gradually replaced older beliefs.

Barrow
A barrow is an earthen mound, usually containing at least one human burial or cremation inside.

Escutcheon
An escutcheon is a fitting from a hanging bowl. It disguises the part where the chain attaches to the bowl.

Excavation
Excavation is the process of digging into the earth, for example to find archaeological remains.

Thomas Bateman
1821-1861. A gentleman antiquarian, from Middleton, Derbyshire, and son of William Bateman. He excavated many barrows in the Peak District and surrounding area. Many artefacts from his personal collection were bought by Weston Park Museum in 1893.

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