A collection of Anglo-Saxon gold artefacts known as the Staffordshire hoard has been hailed as ‘one of the greatest finds of British archaeology’ by researchers.
The ‘war hoard’ collection was discovered by metal detectorist Terry Herbert who was using a £2 metal detector he bought from a car boot sale to explore a field near Lichfield belonging to farmer Fred Johnson.
Their find on July 5, 2009 was sold off to museums for £3.285million and the funds were split between them.
The artefacts are from what is widely considered the ‘holy war of the dark ages’ in which Pagan leaders fought against rival Christian kingdoms.The haul of 3,900 items is thought to belong to Mercian King Penda, a Pagan leader who ruled until 655AD.
A collection of Anglo-Saxon gold artefacts known as the Staffordshire hoard has been hailed as ‘one of the greatest finds of British archaeology’ by researchers. Pictured: A reconstruction of a golden helmet, parts of which were uncovered in the hoard.
The hoard includes what could be a ‘battle shrine’ containing a processional cross that suggests that Christian emblems were used as good-luck charms for battle. Pictured: One of the treasures discovered
he ‘war hoard’ collection was discovered by metal detectorist Terry Herbert who was using a £2 metal detector he bought from a car boot sale.
The research by Dr Chris Fern, of the University of York, is published in book The Staffordshire Hoard: An Anglo-Saxon Treasure.Dr Fern said: ‘This was a period when gold was suddenly much more available, and was converted into beautiful objects for the warrior elite’
The 3,900 antiquated artifacts that date between AD 600 and AD 650 have caused a stir around the world.The trove is now thought to have belonged to Mercian King Penda, who ruled until 655 AD, according to research headed by Dr. Fern. A selection of the artwork is on show at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Mr. Herbert found the hoard on farmer Fred Johnson’s land. The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Staffordshire Hoard Exhibition at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent. On July 5, 2009, their discovery was auctioned off to museums, making the men wealthy.
Most people agreed that King Penda was the strongest Anglo-Saxon monarch during the period.
Since then, the historic find, which dates to between AD 600 and AD 650, has gained widespread attention.Furthermore, scientists now think that one of the strongest Anglo-Saxon kings of the era owned the treasure.Penda took part in the Battle of Hatfield Chase, which resulted in the defeat of King Edwin of Northumbrian.
Out of 4,6000 fragments, researchers under the direction of Dr. Chris Fern have discovered about 700 artifacts from the bloody battles fought between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.According to The Guardian, Dr. Fern thinks the artifacts were stolen from a kingdom in the middle of what is now England by Mercian armies from Northumbria and east England.
The trove, which was probably hurriedly buried but was never unearthed, includes what appears to be a “battle shrine” with a processional cross, indicating that Christian symbols were likely employed as lucky charms in combat.The collection also includes an inscription from the Hebrew Bible’s fourth book, the book of numbers.
The text says, “Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them flee before thee,” according to The Times.
The incredible treasure was discovered in a field close to Lichfield, Staffordshire.For £3.285 million, the artefacts were sold to museums.Nearly 700 artifacts from a period when Anglo-Saxon kings fought bloody wars have been identified by the team.
The collection includes tiny bits of red and blue garnet stone that have been intricately cut into curving shapes to fit into embellishments.
Gold threads that are woven into exquisite forms and are less than one millimeter thick demonstrate the ancient jewelers’ skills.
These losing side’s insignia appear to have been deliberately shattered before being buried.
According to Dr. Fern, “it does seem that some of the Christian objects were targeted,” and during that time period, religious leaders were known to fight to support armies.Roughly 80% of the valuables that were found were made of weapons, mostly swords.
There were pieces of a golden helmet and fifty extremely rare gold sword pommels.There were four kilograms of the precious metal in the entire trove.
“This was a time when gold was suddenly much more available and was transformed into exquisite objects for the warrior elite,” Dr. Fern stated.
The University of York’s Dr. Fern’s research is included in the book The Staffordshire Hoard: An Anglo-Saxon Treasure.
Dr Fern believes the items were taken from Northumbria and East England by Mercian armies from a kingdom in the centre of what is now England, The Guardian reports
The hoard, which was likely hastily buried but never recovered, includes a processional cross that suggests that Christian emblems were used as good-luck charms for battleThe warriors helmet and a unique sword pommel were pieced together by researchers in 2015.
Archaeologists working with the hoard at the time said the two examples of 7th century ‘warrior splendour’ were likely made in workshops set up by some of England’s earliest kings.The silver helmet includes ear pieces, most of the cap and the crest.
And its band reveals etchings of animals and kneeling Saxon warriors, while other parts show men with handlebar moustaches.Anglo-Saxon helmets are incredibly rare in Britain and this is only the fifth to be discovered.
Experts worked for three solid days to reassemble some 1,500 thin, fragile silver sheets into parts of the helmet band and other details.
Experts studying the incredible Staffordshire Hoard have uncovered a rare warrior’s helmet, which includes this helmet band, by piecing together thousands of minuscule scraps of precious metal.The designs depict kneeling human warriors around the band as well as fragments showing male moustachioed faces, birds, animals and mythical beasts. Another part of the helmet is shown above
The painstaking job saw these fragments – many measuring less than one centimetre across and making up around a third of the Hoard in size – pieced together to reveal intricate, die-stamped designs, including on the helmet band, which ran around the circumference of the helmet.
Pieta Greaves, who is in charge of the research for the hoard told MailOnline that the detailed band would have been level with the wearer’s ears.The remarkable designs depict kneeling human warriors around the band as well as fragments showing male moustachioed faces, birds, animals and mythical beasts.
But experts have yet to tie them to the helmet.
Some of the warriors depicted have handlebar moustaches, which may hint that the style was fashionable at the time.There is evidence of Christian and pagan beliefs in the Hoard. This artefact is an example of an early Christian cross
