ARCHAEOLOGY
GLASS BEAD ARCHAEOLOGY
Click below for Sue's latest publications and videos on her research into glass beadmaking in Antiquity:
Click below for Sue's latest publications and videos on her research into glass beadmaking in Antiquity:
Archaeological career
Sue began her career working as a Finds Assistant for the Museum of London, handling the amazing discoveries that were being excavated from various sites around London. She then became an Archaeological Illustrator for the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments (now Historic England).
Her versatility and enthusiasm for reconstruction led to her illustrating the finds from many of the most famous archaeological sites in Britain including Dover, Grimes Graves, Mucking, West Stow and Portway East. Anglo-Saxon jewellery and beads soon became a passion and she spent many months at the British Museum, drawing the finds from Dover Buckland cemetery for archaeologist Vera Evison.
After many years writing books on jewellery making and other subjects for mainstream publishing, Sue has returned to her roots to research Anglo-Saxon beads and uses her skills in hot glass beadmaking to understand the techniques of the ancient beadmakers. Her paintings of reconstructed necklaces show how they would have looked before they were buried. Some of the illustrations are shown below - click on the images for more information.
Sue's book on the subject was published in 2025 and has been receiving 5 star reviews - click here for more information:
Anglo-Saxon Beads 400- 700 AD - A Visual Guide to Types and Techniques
Click here for Sue's research paper on Anglo-Saxon beadmaking: Anglo-Saxon Beadmakers
Click here for Sue's paper on rare Roman Thread-decorated beads for Archaeologia Polski: Thread-decorated beads
Sue was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in January 2025
Her versatility and enthusiasm for reconstruction led to her illustrating the finds from many of the most famous archaeological sites in Britain including Dover, Grimes Graves, Mucking, West Stow and Portway East. Anglo-Saxon jewellery and beads soon became a passion and she spent many months at the British Museum, drawing the finds from Dover Buckland cemetery for archaeologist Vera Evison.
After many years writing books on jewellery making and other subjects for mainstream publishing, Sue has returned to her roots to research Anglo-Saxon beads and uses her skills in hot glass beadmaking to understand the techniques of the ancient beadmakers. Her paintings of reconstructed necklaces show how they would have looked before they were buried. Some of the illustrations are shown below - click on the images for more information.
Sue's book on the subject was published in 2025 and has been receiving 5 star reviews - click here for more information:
Anglo-Saxon Beads 400- 700 AD - A Visual Guide to Types and Techniques
Click here for Sue's research paper on Anglo-Saxon beadmaking: Anglo-Saxon Beadmakers
Click here for Sue's paper on rare Roman Thread-decorated beads for Archaeologia Polski: Thread-decorated beads
Sue was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in January 2025
