Beaker

This is a 'cone' beaker, found in a grave in the Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Mitcham. Glass vessels like this were rare and expensive: its presence in the grave shows that the person buried was of high status. It was probably imported from France, Belgium or Germany and shows the new culture that the Anglo-Saxons were bringing with them from the continent. Cone beakers could have been used at feasts. Because they have no bases, drinkers had to down the contents (ale, cider, mead or wine) in one go and then rest the beakers upside down on their rims.