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Huge Anglo-Saxon gold hoard found Huge Anglo-Saxon gold hoard found
(7 minutes later)
The UK's largest haul of Anglo-Saxon gold has been discovered buried beneath a field in Staffordshire.The UK's largest haul of Anglo-Saxon gold has been discovered buried beneath a field in Staffordshire.
Experts said the collection of 1,500 pieces, which may date back to the 7th Century, is unparalleled in size. Experts said the collection of 1,500 pieces, which may date back to the 7th Century, was unparalleled in size.
A spokeswoman for the British Museum said the find, which is due to be classed as treasure, was the equivalent of finding a "new Book of Kells". Dr Kevin Leahy, who has been cataloguing the find for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, said archaeologists had been "awestruck" by its quality.
Terry Herbert, who found it on farmland using a metal detector, said it "was what metal detectorists dream of".Terry Herbert, who found it on farmland using a metal detector, said it "was what metal detectorists dream of".
It may take more than a year for the gold, which is expected to be classed by a coroner as treasure later, to be valued.It may take more than a year for the gold, which is expected to be classed by a coroner as treasure later, to be valued.
(It is) absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells Leslie Webster, British Museum(It is) absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells Leslie Webster, British Museum
The collection contains about 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver, making it far bigger than the Sutton Hoo discovery in 1939 when 1.5kg of Anglo-Saxon gold was found near Woodbridge in Suffolk.The collection contains about 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver, making it far bigger than the Sutton Hoo discovery in 1939 when 1.5kg of Anglo-Saxon gold was found near Woodbridge in Suffolk.
Leslie Webster, former keeper at the British Museum's Department of Prehistory and Europe, said: "This is going to alter our perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England as radically, if not more so, as the Sutton Hoo discoveries.Leslie Webster, former keeper at the British Museum's Department of Prehistory and Europe, said: "This is going to 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.""(It is) absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells."
'Absolutely phenomenal''Absolutely phenomenal'
Mr Herbert, 55, of Burntwood in Staffordshire, who has been metal detecting for 18 years, came across the hoard as he searched land belonging to a farmer friend. The exact location has not been disclosed.Mr Herbert, 55, of Burntwood in Staffordshire, who has been metal detecting for 18 years, came across the hoard as he searched land belonging to a farmer friend. The exact location has not been disclosed.
"I have this phrase that I say sometimes; 'spirits of yesteryear take me where the coins appear', but on that day I changed coins to gold," he said."I have this phrase that I say sometimes; 'spirits of yesteryear take me where the coins appear', but on that day I changed coins to gold," he said.
The hoard is the largest Anglo-Saxon collection of gold found in the UK
"I don't know why I said it that day but I think somebody was listening and directed me to it."I don't know why I said it that day but I think somebody was listening and directed me to it.
Hundreds of gold artefacts were discovered buried in the field
"This is what metal detectorists dream of, finding stuff like this. But the vast amount there is is just unbelievable.""This is what metal detectorists dream of, finding stuff like this. But the vast amount there is is just unbelievable."
Duncan Slarke, finds liaison officer for Staffordshire, was the first professional to see the hoard which contains warfare paraphernalia, including sword pommel caps and hilt plates inlaid with precious stones.Duncan Slarke, finds liaison officer for Staffordshire, was the first professional to see the hoard which contains warfare paraphernalia, including sword pommel caps and hilt plates inlaid with precious stones.
He said he was "virtually speechless" when he saw the items.He said he was "virtually speechless" when he saw the items.
"Nothing could have prepared me for that," he said."Nothing could have prepared me for that," he said.
"I saw boxes full of gold, items exhibiting the very finest Anglo-Saxon workmanship."I saw boxes full of gold, items exhibiting the very finest Anglo-Saxon workmanship.
"This is absolutely phenomenal."This is absolutely phenomenal.
"It is a hugely important find - the most important one that I have dealt with, but this has got to rank as one of the biggest in the country.""It is a hugely important find - the most important one that I have dealt with, but this has got to rank as one of the biggest in the country."
'Truly remarkable'
The collection is currently being kept in secure storage at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery but a selection of the items are to be displayed at the museum from Friday until 13 October.The collection is currently being kept in secure storage at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery but a selection of the items are to be displayed at the museum from Friday until 13 October.
A Treasure Valuation Committee made up of independent experts will then value the find.A Treasure Valuation Committee made up of independent experts will then value the find.
Dr Kevin Leahy, of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, said it was "a truly remarkable collection". Hundreds of gold artefacts were discovered buried in the field
Dr Kevin Leahy, who has been cataloguing the find for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, said it was "a truly remarkable collection".
"All the archaeologists who've worked with it have been awestruck," he added."All the archaeologists who've worked with it have been awestruck," he added.
"It's been actually quite scary working on this material to be in the presence of greatness.""It's been actually quite scary working on this material to be in the presence of greatness."
He said the most striking feature of the find was that it was almost totally weapon fittings with no feminine objects such as dress fittings, brooches or pendants.
"Swords and sword fittings were very important in the Anglo-Saxon period," Dr Leahy added.
"The Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf describes after a battle a sword being stripped of its hilt fittings.
"It looks like a collection of trophies, but it is impossible to say if the hoard was the spoils from a single battle or a long and highly successful military career.
"We also cannot say who the original, or the final, owners were, who took it from them, why they buried it or when.
"It will be debated for decades."