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| Celtic Radio Community > Historical Archive > Anglo-Saxon Hoard |
| Posted by: CelticRadio 24-Sep-2009, 06:43 PM |
| An unemployed man has unearthed the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found with the help of his metal detector. Experts are now calculating its value—a process that could take more than a year because of its size. Terry Herbert from Burntwood, Staffordshire, stumbled on the hoard in a private field with his trusty 14-year-old metal detector. Over five days in July, the 55-year-old dug up a fortune on the farmland near to his home. The find was declared as treasure by coroner Andrew Haigh, which means the cache will be offered for sale after it is valued. More than 1,500 pieces of treasure—including around 11lbs of gold and 5.5lbs of silver—has now been uncovered. Archaeologists believe the hoard dates back to the seventh century and may have belonged to Saxon royalty. Among the riches are warfare paraphernalia, including sword pommel caps and hilt plates, often inlaid with precious stones. Leslie Webster, former keeper at the British Museum's Department of Prehistory and Europe, said the find would "alter our perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England as radically, if not more so, as the Sutton Hoo discoveries." "(It is) absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells," he said. Dr Kevin Leahy, national finds adviser from the Portable Antiquities Scheme, added that while the quantity of gold was amazing, the craftsmanship was "consummate. Its origins are clearly the very highest-levels of Saxon aristocracy or royalty," he said. "It belonged to the elite." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,554840,00.html?test=latestnews <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oYTJ3R3jcm8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oYTJ3R3jcm8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object> |
| Posted by: Rindy 24-Sep-2009, 07:23 PM |
| This is amazing. Oh, wouldn't it be nice to find something like that. I will be anxious to hear who it belonged to. Some of those pieces are so beautiful. Does anyone here metal detect? Slainte |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 24-Sep-2009, 10:43 PM |
| Gotta love how they declared it "treasure" and therefore belongs to the queen. I wonder if the poor bloke who found it will get anything... |
| Posted by: Rindy 24-Sep-2009, 11:01 PM |
| I don't know either Irish Stepper, think I may have kept it quiet if possible. I have a friend metal detects out here all the time. He found a token they used in the calvary forts that brought him $350.00 on ebay. What ever happened to finders keeppers losers weepers??? Slainte |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 24-Sep-2009, 11:58 PM |
| I guess when you live under a monarch, Finders Keepers doesn't exist. |
| Posted by: Rindy 25-Sep-2009, 07:15 PM |
| Isn't that the truth Irish Stepper. This will be an interesting story to follow. Slainte |