Project Team
Birmingham Archaeology have been working with Staffordshire County Council, English Heritage and Duncan Slarke from the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Staffordshire Hoard
The discovery
Archaeologists from Birmingham Archaeology have been participating in the recovery of the UK's largest haul of Anglo Saxon gold, amounting to over 1,500 items. The find, initially discovered by metal detectorist Tony Herbert, was recovered from a field near Lichfield, Staffordshire. The discovery was reported to Duncan Slarke, the Portable Antiquities Scheme finds liaison officer, who in turn informed Ian Wykes, leader of Staffordshire County Council’s Historic Environment Team and the local coroner .
Methodology
Following an initial 2m square trial-excavation dug by Staffordshire County Council, Birmingham Archaeology were invited to excavate the site with funding from English Heritage. After complete excavation of the initial 2m square test-pit a detailed strategy for hand-excavation of the hoard was agreed with English Heritage and Staffordshire County Council, and implemented.
It was clear from the 2m square test-pit, as well as from subsequent larger-scale investigation that all the finds were strictly confined to the ploughsoil, where they had been scattered by recent deep ploughing. A total area measuring 9m by 13m was carefully hand-excavated in one metre squares, the finds from each square being separated, and also allocated individual small finds numbers. Initially the soil from each 1m square was removed in 10cm spits down to the subsoil, and visually checked for finds, before being wet sieved to collect all finds. Sieving was discontinued in agreement between all parties, because of difficulties in wet sieving the heavy clay soil. All finds continued to be recorded in 1m squares, with hand-excavation continuing in 10 cm spits as before. All spoil was visually sorted for the recovery of finds, before being metal detected. No features associated with the hoard were identified during hand-excavation.
A detailed geophysical survey was undertaken using a Ferex magnetometer. Hand-testing of a selection of the anomalies identified a number of features of geological or modern origin. Outside the excavation area the geophysical survey was followed by a metal detector survey was undertaken to identify any items located outside the main artefact concentration. All metal detector signals were tested by hand-excavation, but only items of 19th or 20th century date were recovered. Finally, the site was re-examined using specialist equipment provided by the Home Office with support from Staffordshire Police, again with recovery only of very recent finds.
The hoard
The hoard is by far the largest find of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. It includes approximately 5 kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver. The quality of craftsmanship is supreme, suggesting ownership by the elite. Most of the items may date from the seventh century.
The hoard is remarkable for the large number of pommel caps and hilt plates, most of gold, many intricately adorned with garnets. The hoard also contained a number of fragments from decorated helmets, one decorated with a freeze of running, interlaced animals. Perhaps the most significant find is a strip of gold with a Latin inscription, probably from the Book of Numbers (Ch 10, v 35): ‘Rise up, O Lord, and may thine enemies be dispersed and those who hate thee be driven from thy face.
The only non-martial items are two, or possibly three crosses.
Overall the hoard may be a collection of trophies from a single battle or a series of military conflicts. The reason for burial is not clear. It could have been an offering to pagan gods, or concealed during a time of threat. What is clear is that the hoard will cause experts to rethink seventh century Mercia. The hoard could have been accumulated by the Mercian kings Penda, Wulfhere and Aethelred, during their wars with Northumbria or East Anglia.
For more information on the Staffordshire Hoard visit the official website.