Experts uncover a 'once-in-a-lifetime' discovery near Northampton of international significance.
The burial also contained two decorated pots and a shallow copper dish.
Mola conservators said the large and ornate piece suggests the woman may have been an early Christian leader.Other findings include decorated pots, a copper dish and a decorated cross with depictions of human faces cast in silver Conservator Liz Barham has been one of a number of people working on the burial finds
A handful of similar necklaces from this time have previously been discovered in other regions of England, but none are as ornate as the "Harpole treasure", experts added.British Museum's collectionsSimon Mortimer, RPS Archaeology Consultant, said: "This find is truly a once-in-a-lifetime discovery - the sort of thing you read about in textbooks and not something you expect to see coming out of the ground in front of you.
• Late 6th-7th Centuries: Christianity gradually spreads across southern and eastern Britain and starts to appear in elite burials• 793 AD: A Viking raid on the monastery at Lindisfarne, off the coast of modern-day Northumberland, marks the start of Viking raids on Britain• 1066 AD: William the Conqueror defeats Harold and becomes King of England, ending the Early Medieval period