Archeologists reveal golden helmet and 90 Anglo-Saxon treasures

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Around 90 new pieces of gold and silver have been unearthed in the field where the Staffordshire Hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure was found three years ago.
The fresh discoveries, made in recent weeks at Hammerwich, near Lichfield, include what is thought to be a part of a helmet and an eagle-shaped object, many of pieces weighed less than a gram.

Newly discovered Anglo Saxon treasure is unveiled at a press conference at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire today

90 items have so far been found, many extremely small. They include part of a helmet, an eagle and a cross.

THE STAFFORDSHIRE HAUL

The new items were found in the same field where over 3,900 pieces of gold, silver and some copper alloy objects were found in 2009. The first discovery was made by a metal detectorist, who had permission to scan the land.

Archaeologists discovered the largest ever find of Anglo Saxon gold and silver metal work from this country. In total the hoard included over 5kg of gold, 1.5kg of silver and thousands of small garnets.

 

The five hectare field was examined by a team of archaeologists - who have previously worked on battlesites at Bosworth and Hastings - once it had been ploughed at the end of November.

The new artefacts have tentatively been dated to the 7th or 8th centuries, placing the origin of the items in the time of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia

The latest find includes parts of a helmet. The team has been using x-ray images to piece together objects they find.

Following the discovery three years ago, English Heritage immediately recognised the exceptional significance of the finds and provided emergency funding at the start of the dig together with continued expert advice, support and funding for the research and preservation of the Staffordshire Hoard.  Archaeologists working with Staffordshire County Council later carried out the excavation of the field and discovered the largest ever find of Anglo Saxon gold and silver metal work from this country.

In total the hoard included over 5kg of gold, 1.5kg of silver and thousands of small garnets.

WHAT IS TREASURE?

Treasure is defined by the law as any gold or silver objects, or coins, more than 300 years old which were deliberately hidden.

Under the 1996 Treasure Act, any treasure found in England and Wales belongs to the Crown.

Anyone who finds what they suspect may be treasure must report it to the local coroner within 14 days of discovery. If they don't, they risk a three-month jail sentence or a £5,000 fine.

If an inquest declares that a find is treasure, it is offered to the British Museum or a local museum who has it officially valued by an independent board of antiquities experts.
If they want the find, they must pay the market value of the treasure to the finder and/or landowner.
If they don't, the finder can keep it.
Normally, any treasure belongs to the landowner. However, a landowner can agree to split the reward with a metal detector enthusiast.
 

They include a bishop’s pectoral cross, a large folded cross, a helmet cheek piece, a filigree seahorse and numerous sword fittings including hilt plates and pommel caps.
The pieces appear to date from the seventh century, although there is some debate among experts as to when the hoard first entered the ground.

The dig was closed when archaeologists were confident they had retrieved everything that was recoverable at the time.

Last month, a team of archaeologists and experienced metal detectorists from Archaeology Warwickshire returned to the field when it was ploughed and recovered further material.
These are currently being examined and x-rayed at a specialist archives laboratory.
After the Staffordshire Hoard was declared treasure a huge fundraising campaign was launched to bring the treasure back to the West Midlands.