Saxon Rote #4

Original design based on 7th Century lyre found in burial mound in Prittlewell, Great Britain. Similar to instrument found in the Sutton Hoo archeological site, East Anglia, Great Britain. It is salvaged birch, maple, and has hand-carved boxwood tuning pegs.

Early in the new millenium another Saxon burial site was discovered east of London in Prittlewell. Before excavation, archeoligists used new X-ray technologies to see into sections of a burial mound. One X-ray showed the perfect outline of a 6-string rote (lyre), almost identical to the one found in the mid-20th century in Sutton Hoo. From the X-ray, shape and measurements were easily determined. However, when excavated, the Prittlewell rote was completely deteriorated. Only the metal bird-shaped decorative pieces remained. I replicated the decorative stylized bird pieces in carved maple, with red glass gems for eyes. The body is all birch, salvaged from a neighborhood tree that died. Carved bridge and tailpiece are maple, and the hand-carved tuning pegs are boxwood.

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