This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/8455189.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Campaign to keep treasure hoard | Campaign to keep treasure hoard |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Historian Dr David Starkey has backed a campaign to keep the UK's largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold in the region where it was unearthed. | Historian Dr David Starkey has backed a campaign to keep the UK's largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold in the region where it was unearthed. |
| The appeal, launched at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, aims to raise £3.3m to buy the Staffordshire Hoard which was discovered last July. | The appeal, launched at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, aims to raise £3.3m to buy the Staffordshire Hoard which was discovered last July. |
| Up to 1,500 artefacts were found in a field near Lichfield by metal detecting enthusiast Terry Herbert. | Up to 1,500 artefacts were found in a field near Lichfield by metal detecting enthusiast Terry Herbert. |
| "Archaeological finds don't come any bigger than this," said Dr Starkey. | "Archaeological finds don't come any bigger than this," said Dr Starkey. |
| He added: "It's so important, and the figures - 1,500 objects, 5.5kg of gold - it's big, big, big. | He added: "It's so important, and the figures - 1,500 objects, 5.5kg of gold - it's big, big, big. |
| "It transforms the history of the Midlands from some kind of obscure Brummie slum into the centre of England - but we're just at the very, very beginning. | "It transforms the history of the Midlands from some kind of obscure Brummie slum into the centre of England - but we're just at the very, very beginning. |
| "It's only six months since these things were found. They've barely been conserved. All the study, all the work has got to start right here." | "It's only six months since these things were found. They've barely been conserved. All the study, all the work has got to start right here." |
| Dr Starkey says the hoard would be 'meaningless' if split up | Dr Starkey says the hoard would be 'meaningless' if split up |
| Dr Starkey, who is also a television and radio presenter, said breaking up the collection or moving it would "lose its meaning". | |
| He added: "It must stay here, together and intact, to be studied and displayed here in the West Midlands, the foundation of whose history it will now become." | He added: "It must stay here, together and intact, to be studied and displayed here in the West Midlands, the foundation of whose history it will now become." |
| If successful, the hoard would be jointly acquired by both the Birmingham museum and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent. | If successful, the hoard would be jointly acquired by both the Birmingham museum and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent. |
| The campaign, being led by The Art Fund charity, aims to raise the money by 17 April. | The campaign, being led by The Art Fund charity, aims to raise the money by 17 April. |
| Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent city councils and The Art Fund have together donated £500,000 to the cause. | Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent city councils and The Art Fund have together donated £500,000 to the cause. |
| The hoard was valued in November after being declared to be treasure by the South Staffordshire coroner. | The hoard was valued in November after being declared to be treasure by the South Staffordshire coroner. |
| Minister for Culture and Tourism Margaret Hodge said: "It is only right that it should be kept and displayed here in the West Midlands for future generations to enjoy." | Minister for Culture and Tourism Margaret Hodge said: "It is only right that it should be kept and displayed here in the West Midlands for future generations to enjoy." |
| Once the hoard is bought, an extra £1.7m will be needed to ensure it can be properly conserved, studied and displayed. | Once the hoard is bought, an extra £1.7m will be needed to ensure it can be properly conserved, studied and displayed. |