Pendant

This pendant, depicting Medusa, was found in the coffin burial of a woman aged over 18 years. Stable isotopic analysis indicated she grew up in the London area. Her grave goods included two jet pendants and a long bead necklace placed by her right arm, with a copper-alloy bracelet on her left wrist. A small flagon was placed over the Medusa pendant and a miniature jar and a small pewter bowl had been placed at her feet. Chicken bones were found by her right leg. The pendant was carved to depict the mythological monster Medusa with her snake hair. It was probably worn as an amulet to ward off the ‘evil eye’.