Beowulf Museum

By:Caleb AngelitoKrishi Dudhia

Christina FeinrothEleana Pardo

Table of Contents

Clothing Village Warrior

Home and Rooms Daily Life

FarmingFoodHerot Ship

Artifacts Medicine

Male Clothing

•Wore wool/linen hip-length undershirts w/ long sleeves & probably loincloths

•Woolen trousers held up by a belt threaded through loops

•Long-sleeved tunic pulled over head and reached down to the knees. They were usually decorated at the wrists, neck, and hem

•Belt was worn at the waist w/ a decorated buckle & a strap-end.

•Pouches, knives, etc. were hung from the belt

•Shoes made of a single piece of leather and an extra piece to form a sole. They were fastened w/ laces, toggles, or loops.

Female Clothing

•Under-dress of linen/wool w/ long sleeves and draw-string neck

•Sleeves fastened w/ clasps (wealthier) or drawn together w/ string (poorer)

•Outer dress was like a tube of material, like a pinafore, and called a “peplos”.

•Pair of shoulder brooches or clasps held peplos onto the under-dress

•Belt was worn, from which accessories were hung.

•Linguistic evidence says that shawls were worn, as well as cloaks, which were fastened centrally or to the right shoulder w/ a brooch.

•Same shoes as men

•Rings, bracelets, etc were popular

Village

•Villages are often near a body of water for cooking, washing, drinking, and fishing.

•Wood-workers are important for any town, because wood is used for houses, furniture, etc.

•Villagers, in addition to livestock and fishing, farm for a source of food.

Village

•Sheep are kept for both their meat and wool for clothing. Children usually look after them.

•Houses are built on a frame of timber. Walls are constructed with planks, and roofs are thatched with straw.

Warrior“And if it sticks in the shield, it fixes in it at once and is carried around with it, the butt dragging on the ground. The man who has been hit cannot cut it off with his sword because of the iron which covers the shaft. When the Frank sees this he quickly treads on it with his foot, stepping on the ferrule and forcing the shield downwards so that the man's hand is loosened and his head and breast bared. Then, taking him unprotected, he kills him easily either cleaving his head with an axe or piercing his throat with another spear.”

Warrior

•Fought on foot

•Feared weapon: Battle axe

•Precious weapon: Sword

•Spears were usually 2m long, and made of ash wood

•Also had shortsword/knives called seax or scramaseax, where saxon comes from.

•Throwing spears had barbs to stick onto the target

Warrior• Spearhead B1: Long, narrow square or diamond blade w/ a

conical socket (Bannedstory)• Swords: Double-edged, broad balded, straight edged

(Spatha)• Lower & upper guards, drips of wood, bone, or horn• No pommel – only a large “washer” over which the tang

was riveted• Swords were handed down from father to son, king to

retainer. They were often thought to have greater virtue because of their age, or if they were held by a famous person.

• Carried in a scabbard (sheath), made of two thin laths of leather covered wood

• Scabbard mouth sometimes ornamented with a metal band• Lined w/ fleece so that the natural grease of the sheep’s

wool would keep the blade from rusting

Warrior• Axes: Few used axes. One uncommon type of axe was the francisca,

a short handled axe with an upward curving blade, probably used as a projectile

• Bows and arrows: No bows have survived in England, although arrowheads sometimes remain

• Wooden longbows, usually made of yew. Bows were used less.• Shields: Center-grip. Round wooden board, often covered w/

leather or heavy cloth with an iron boss at the center. Grip often reinforced w/ an iron strip. A few were bound at the rim w/ bronze, but most had a leather rim stitched on. Some were decorated w/ ornate metal foils and studs or by painting.

• Most were of the “buckler” type. The older/wealthier the person was, the larger their shield was (when buried).

• Boss was usually conical, secured by 5 rivets.

Warrior Pictures

Ship

•Basil Brown- discovered one of the most interesting things ever

•27 meter ship was found beneath the mound

•“At its centre was a ruined burial chamber packed with treasures: Byzantine silverware, sumptuous gold jewellery, a lavish feasting set, and most famously, an ornate iron helmet.”(British Museum)

Ship• This shows that the heroes, treasures and traditions portrayed in Anglo-

Saxon poetry was not a myth

• Ship burial shows the connections of Anglo- Saxons to other regions of the world at the time

Medical Remedies• Medicine- intricate mix of

charms• Some of the oldest

medical documents-Bald’s Leechbook, Leechbook III- found in the British Library in Old English

• “Frankincense, pepper, silk, ginger and myrrh-some things used to make remedies”

• Records and remedies show that medicine was a mix of Pagan beliefs and Christianity

• Cures portray the great understanding of medicine the Anglo-Saxons had

Medicine

Use of Herbs and Superstitions

• Was of great importance in Anglo- Saxon medicine

• Prayers and charms for both used to heal diseases because of the high influence of the Church during this time period

• Number nine was used a lot

Bloodletting

• Commonly used

• This may have caused infection

• There is very little record of surgery

• Wounds- sewn up with silk

Medicine

“Anglo-Saxons were superstitious. They believed in lucky charms. They thought 'magic' rhymes, potions, stones or jewels would protect them from evil spirits or sickness.”

Daily Life

Women

• Women weaved, prepared food, served drinks.

• Finances also belonged to the women of the relationship-not just the man.

• Daughters equally as important to sons.

Men

• Also worked on the farm.

• Chopped down trees, raised the animals.

• Some=woodwork.

• Distant from children/strict.

• Wife’s brother was the kind/closer relative.

Daily Life

Marriage

• Divorce was allowed.

• To get married, the man would give a gift to the women.

• Women also took care of some finances.

Jobs

• This was all a part of Anglo Saxon life.

• Many Saxons took part in the various jobs.

• Farming/weaving/pottery making/wood work.

Daily Life

Making Objects

• Pole-lathe used for turning wood.

• Bowls made using the pole-lathe.

• Wood-working important skill.

• Wood=buildings/furniture/weapons/cooking/utensils/ship building.

Jewelry

• Some women wore jewelry.

• Also held clothing together.

• Made of copper alloy.

Daily Life

Weaving

• Cloth woven on loom.

• Made of woolen thread.

• Many ways to produce different types of cloth.

• Wool must be washed, carded, and spun into thread.

• No school for children-learned from parents.

Pottery

• Villagers dug own clay-made pots/mixed with sand or cow manure.

• Used bonfire/fire to harden the pots.

• Pots not glazed- Pots are not decorated.

• Just normal old pots.

Daily Life

Woodland

• Woodland on edge of village-not wild/carefully managed.

• Villagers cut back, or coppiced, the trees so that growth is straight/tall.

• Used straight poles for brooms and rakes/fencing/fastening roof thatch/ Poles also make very good firewood.

At the End of the Day…

• After a day’s hard work, villagers enjoyed parties/ate and drank/listened to stories of adventures.

• Some partiers gambled, but not for money.

Farming

Most Anglo-Saxons were farmers who lived on rural farms. There were buildings on each farm to house the family, house the animals, and store crops.