Anglo Saxon find "Bigger than Sutton Hoo"

[Caballo]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090924/tu ... 23e80.html

http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/

[Medicus matt]

Going to go and have a look tomorrow.

[url:3d4bqeva]http://www.flickr.com/photos/finds/sets/72157622378376316/[/url]

[Ron Andrea]

Incredible find.

Have they dated it? Or said what kind of site it was? Despite the comparisons to Sutton Hoo, the articles imply that Staffordshire is not a burial site. Is that correct?

[PhilusEstilius]

It has been suggested that the hoard may go back to the 6th century and there are pieces that are militaria ie sword pommels etc.

[Redwald]

It is much bigger than Sutton Hoo in the number of finds and the quality of many is every bit as high.

It is a hoard, not a burial. It contains carefully selected parts of mainly swords, seaxes, shields and helmets. Many items are gold and garnet. The implications, at the moment seem to be that these pieces were torn from their original settings and deposited in the field.

See many of the finds yourself at:
http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/artefacts/


Cheers,

Paul

[Ron Andrea]

Does that imply either hiding in anticipation of thief? Or even hiding after taking in anticipation of returning to make off with it? In either case, no one returned.

[Redwald]

It is tempting to see the hoard as a sacrifice to the gods of the victorious side in a battle -- all the important and most precious parts of the weapons being removed and gifted to the deities of the winning side, (the hoard is dated to the time of the conversions - around the early to mid 7th century) indeed, Kevin Leahy, the archaeologist in charge, does make this suggestion. We will just have to wait and see what further analysis reveals. In the meantime it is fun to speculate.


Paul

[Ron Andrea]

Good stuff. Keep us informed.

[Paullus Scipio]

The find has been highlighted in news/media even here....with clips showing individual items being dug out with trowels. The items are described as "7-8 C AD gold items likely from the kingdom of Mercia" ( from the location I guess) ....the archaeologist interviewed described it as largest find in Britain and much more important than Sutton Ho (?????)

[Paullus Scipio]

Our TV news is now reporting that the hoard contains aprox 1400 gold items weighing over 5 kg !! One item shown on camera loked interesting - very like a japanese 'tsuba'/sword guard, and like a tsuba, made for a single edged sword.......

[Redwald]

Went to see some of the finds yesterday -- very impressed with the quality of some of the artefacts. Some otems have filigree decoration finer than I think I have ever seen before. The gold and garnet work is superb -- some of it as good as Sutton Hoo -- a few pieces may even be better.

Great stuff -- now for the soil blocks.

Paul

[Merlkir]

Our TV news is now reporting that the hoard contains aprox 1400 gold items weighing over 5 kg !! One item shown on camera loked interesting - very like a japanese 'tsuba'/sword guard, and like a tsuba, made for a single edged sword.......

I was wondering about the exact same item, I think I saw it described as a part of a knife. (saex? I noticed the single edge too)