Viking woman
A well-off Danish immigrant living in 9th century Leicestershire
Unlike her Anglo-Saxon contemporaries she does not wear a veil, but rather goes bare-headed- a sign that she is a Pagan, without the modest sensibilities of Christian women. Her hair is loosely drawn back and tied in a knot, from which dangles a pony-tail. She wears a linen shirt, edged with tablet-woven strips, and fastened at the neck with a copper-alloy trefoil brooch: this brooch might also be used to fasten her shawl. A circular gold pendant hangs around her neck, and she has a long necklace made of coloured glass and amber beads. The main piece of clothing she wears is a cylindrical gown of fine woollen cloth, hanging from shoulder straps, fastened by two large copper alloy ‘tortoise brooches’. The gown is edged with a woven strip and embroidered strips, and is also decorated with Borre-style embroidery across the breast. The gown is gathered at a high waist by a woven girdle, rather than a belt: the girdle is knotted, and the loose ends hang down; riveted to the ends of the girdle are silver strap-ends. From the girdle hang a small iron knife in its leather sheath and a leather purse. She wears several silver rings on her fingers, and three silver bracelets; Danish women liked to show off their wealth by wearing it.
She wears a woollen shawl, edged with fur, which she has slipped off her shoulders. The shawl has a diamond-striped pattern. When it is on her shoulders, the shawl hangs down her back and ends below her waist in a point, in the south Scandinavian style. On her feet she wears leather boots, each fastened with a toggle. Above her right boot we can just make out one of her woollen socks.