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How do we know what
it was like in the Dark Ages?
- Archaeologists
have dug up the graves of lots of British women. However, because they
were Christians, they usually didn't have anything buried with them.
They didn't need to take possessions with them to Heaven.
- The British were
still Romans even though the army had gone back to Europe. They wore
simple Romano-British style clothes.
- We know lots
about these styles from Roman writing and carving, and even
from pictures on mosaic floors.
- Most usual
were ankle-length tunics covered with a ¾
length dress. Both could have long or short sleeves.
- This seems to be
the outfit worn by the Virgin Mary in Welsh carvings of her.
- Clothes were
made of wool. Rich people might have been able to afford linen imported from
Gaul (France).
- Cloaks were
probably similar to men's. Northern British
poetry tells us they could be chequed or striped and pinned with 'penannular'
brooches.
- Romano-British
ladies were renowned for their long hair. Archaeologists
have found bone combs and pins that were used by ladies to keep their hair neat and
tidy and to pin it up.
- Saxon-style
jewelry, and probably clothing too, became popular with British ladies
as
trade with the Saxons grew.
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