Do you know anything about the Anglo-Saxon princess found at Loftus? Joshua (15) and Luke (12)

I have heard about the princess buried in the Street House cemetery near Loftus, which dates back to the 7th century. The excavation of the cemetery took place between 2005 and 2007 and over 100 graves were discovered!

Unfortunately, because of the geology, no bones survived so it is difficult to say much about the actual people. But the princess was buried with lavish grave goods: three gold pendants, one of them adorned with a gem stone carved into a scallop shape, two glass beads and a fragment of a jet hair pin.

Also, the princess was laid out on a decorated wooden bed. The bed was made of ash wood and iron and is quite an extraordinary discovery as very few similar burials have been uncovered (there are only 17 graves of this type in England).

I haven’t seen the exhibition at Kirkleatham Museum but if you get the chance to go, I’m sure it is well worth it!

Odile, October 2025

Answered by:

Odile Rouard

Hello, my name is Odile Rouard. I’ve always been interested in archaeology and the understanding of ancient cultures, since I started reading Greek mythology as a child.

I have been working as a professional archaeologist for many years and am looking forward to answering any questions you have about archaeology.

I graduated from York University and have worked on excavations in France, in Ireland and in England of course; I even helped train students in field archaeology on a Silk Road citadel in Kazakhstan!
I have just moved to Orkney to start a new adventure and am now taking part in Viking tours and helping children discover archaeology.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Odile

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