Anglo Saxon hanging bowls

Anglo Saxon hanging bowls are high status objects often found in graves. They are found across the country, but Lincolnshire has revealed a particularly high concentration of them. They are typified by their fine workmanship, enamelled decorative mounts and the fact that they were designed to be suspended.

Although found in Anglo Saxon contexts, the decorative style is late Celtic, suggesting that the bowls were old when they were buried. Their use remains a mystery, though some may have been employed during religious ceremonies. Others have been deliberately stabbed with knives before being buried, perhaps removing their power.