This probably seventh-century bishop’s miter was buried as part of the Staffordshire Hoard. (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery)
Questions remain
The Staffordshire Treasure is a find that has provided insight into ancient Anglo-Saxon civilisation, while also raising a number of questions. This discovery suggests that the creators of these items used a “secret” technique by which lower-grade gold with high silver content can have the appearance of pure gold. This is done through a process in which gold containing up to 25% silver is placed in an acid solution, causing the silver to leach out and burn. This gives the surface the appearance of pure gold, while the underlying metal is of poorer quality.
Craftsmen used a “secret” technique, through which lower quality gold with high silver content could look like pure gold. (Ceramic Museum & Art Gallery)
This is a quite sophisticated method of fraud in ancient times, making outsiders believe that it is pure gold but in fact it is not. The researchers concluded that these pieces were of the highest quality that the Anglo-Saxons could have produced and that the finds must have come from the culture’s elite. Additionally, some pieces appear to have been intentionally removed from swords, belts, etc. and they do not match the appearance of what is considered “spoils of war”. Furthermore, it appears that many of the artifacts were intentionally bent, folded, and/or broken.
Staffordshire Hoard helmets are recycled. (Birmingham Museum)
The Staffordshire Archives also raises the question of why the treasure was originally placed in the same location. Deputy Director of the Portable Antiquities Program at the British Museum, Michael Lewis has given two possible reasons for the hoard burial. In his expert opinion, the hoard was either buried as an offering to the gods, perhaps as a means of demonstrating that the pagan gods of the Mercians were stronger than the gods of Christianity ; or it is a buried treasure that has been lost or cannot be recovered.
While offering both suggestions as potential motives, he admitted that it seemed unlikely that such a large, valuable tomb would have been intended as a sacrifice to the gods, saying that “seems like overkill.” Lewis has also stated that it is highly unlikely that all the pieces are related to a specific individual.
A cross that is intentionally bent. (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery)
As the treasure was discovered relatively recently, much speculation continues about the origins of this buried treasure. Was the treasure intentionally left behind or lost? Was it deposited by soldiers or thieves?
With such high value and such an impressive trove of items, it is clear that the Staffordshire Hoard is a find that represents a very important part of ancient human history. Perhaps with further investigation, we can come to a more certain conclusion about the treasure’s origin and purpose. To this day, these pieces remain an astonishing example of lost treasure found in a field by a man using a metal detector.
