Making their mark

Who was the Winfarthing Lady?

What do the artefacts found in her grave tell us about her?

This week, we explored the concept of ‘identity’, as illustrated by the magnificent jewellery and other items buried alongside the Winfarthing Lady.

The coins, fashioned into pendants, and the large bronze bowl with remnants of medicinal plants all provided clues as to who she was and where she’d come from.

The De Lucy residents shared clues about their pastimes, from running the local Girls Brigade pack to knitting toys for fund raisers, and occupations, from working in a busy office environment to being a gardener at a local nursery.

After which we introduced them to a brand new material – metal clay. This is clay that’s impregnated with either copper or bronze.

Using an assortment of tools, buttons and seed heads, the group first practised with plasticine and then created their own precious metal ‘coins’ to be fired and made into pendants.

Over at Oak Lodge, we first experimented with card discs, to work out the sort of designs we wanted to use, before getting out the plasticine to make a prototype.

And then it was a gloriously busy hour or so, rolling out and mark making, using everything from seed heads, shells, tiny letters and lengths of lace.

It was such a hot day, we sprayed as much water on ourselves as we did on the clay, but it was great fun; I can’t wait to see the pendants when they’re fired and finished off.

Coins and Crosses: Seeking the Anglo-Saxons in Winfarthing and Waveney is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to connect local communities with our Anglo-Saxon history.