Diameter: 7.000 cm (bracelets, max.)

Gifts of Canon W.G. Greenwell, T.E. Wells & Sons, Sir I. MacDonald of Sleat, G.R. Wilson and others, Major Tristram

P&EE 1879 12-9 534, 539;P&EE 1926 3-13 12;P&EE 1951 11-12 1;P&EE 1975 4-1 5;P&EE 1978 12-2 16, 20;P&EE 1991 10-1 1A

Room 50: Britain and Europe

• Larger image

Previous tour

tour 5 of 5

Next tour

People in Iron Age Britain

Women's and girls' jewellery

This selection of fine jewellery would have been worn by some women and girls in the middle of the Iron Age. Very simple brooches were worn, often the equivalent of simple safety pins for holding clothes together. Other types of jewellery were uncommon, which suggests that few people at this time wore flamboyant costumes.

However, some people did own brooches with decoration that could include red or white coral, or red glass. To own a necklace with so many beads was very unusual. Most women would have only worn one or two glass beads, if any at all. Bangles could have been worn around the wrists, or as anklets.