In 2009, a small village in England was the site of a discovery of a treasure that was unlike any other. It was a man using a metal detector on farmland in Hammerwich who found what we now know as the Staffordshire Hoard. The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest gold collection of its type ever found from the Anglo Saxon era, numbering nearly 4,000 items.
The pieces are mostly military type ones and are gold and silver. The man continued to scan the area, and more items began emerging from the soil. He recognized the importance of his find and so contacted a local expert from the Staffordshire and West Midlands Portable Antiquities Scheme for help.
Experts then carried out a full excavation of the site with the landowner’s approval. The effort soon attracted the assistance of Birmingham Archaeology.
The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver treasure ever found. Mainly decorative fittings from war-gear, such as swords and scabards. 6th-7th century AD. Discovered by a metal detectorist in July 2009. 📷: my own.#FindsFriday#Archaeology pic.twitter.com/jesXYuilOc
— Alison Fisk (@AlisonFisk) September 16, 2022
Once the items were gathered, a ten-year project was underway to conserve and inspect the treasure. In 2019, the results of this study were published in a book titled The Staffordshire Hoard: An Anglo-Saxon Treasure and shared online.
Birmingham Museums said the ancient objects were cleaned carefully during this time, and x-rays were taken to find out more about them.
Many of the fragmented items of the Staffordshire Hoard were painstakingly reassembled. Many were incomplete, and experts worked tirelessly to match pieces that had once belonged to the same object.
Staffordshire Hoard, the largest gold collection, might be from the 7th century
Research has revealed the origins and age of the hoard, but there are still mysteries surrounding the collection. According to Birmingham Museums commentary, archaeologists believe the treasure was buried in the 7th century between 650 and 675 AD.
Stoke Museums experts mention that most of the discoveries in this era are jewelry-like brooches and pendants, which might help shed light on other discoveries of the same time period.
Furthermore, the Staffordshire Hoard’s focus on war-related items is a key feature. This collection is unusual in that it is largely military gear in contrast to many other finds of the period.
Extremely rare Anglo-Saxon Helmet of gold and silver from 7th century, reconstructed from fragments found near Lichfield, England.
Staffordshire Hoard is largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever discovered, held by Birmingham Museums Trust.#archaeohistories pic.twitter.com/wVgEK2Q8f9
— Archaeo – Histories (@archeohistories) December 14, 2021
An ancient war helmet is one of the most significant pieces. When it was found, however, it was in fragments. There were around 1,000 of them, according to Stoke Museums experts. This helmet was worn in its prime by a king, say historians.
Two replicas of the helmet were made after months of study. One is on display at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, while the other can be seen at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.