Close up of a metal bowl with patches of green

Curators Choice – Manton Hanging Bowl

One of the star objects in the archaeology collection is the Manton Hanging Bowl. It was found in a sandpit on the parish boundary between Manton and Hibaldstow in 1939.

Hanging bowls date to the sixth or seventh century. They seem to have had a few different uses. Some may have been used for rituals, such as for baptisms. Perhaps others were for washing or for holding drink at feasts. Although often found in Anglo-Saxon graves, the decoration on hanging bowls points to Celtic manufacture.

What makes the Manton Bowl extra special is a link with the famous royal ship burial at Sutton Hoo. The Manton Bowl has decorative glass millefiori mounts. Research has revealed that these mounts were made in the same workshop as mounts on the Sutton Hoo hanging.

In this video, Heritage Manager Rose Nicholson, takes a closer look at the Manton Hanging Bowl and what is can tell us about Early Anglo-Saxon North Lincolnshire.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more