More Staffordshire Hoard Treasure: Video Footage of the Dig
If seems that Britain (the Hoard made it to 'most viewed' on the BBC website today) - and Heritage Key (mine is definitely not the first blogpost on the topic) - can't get enough of the Mercian Treasure baptised 'the Staffordshire Hoard'. Realising what an incredible find this is - or standard archaeological procedure? - Birmingham University Archaeology published the actual unearthing of the collection of Anglo-Saxon hoarded wealth, at that point still looking more like little stones than the actual gems they are. In the video you see the archaeologists carefully searching the sand, digging up the precious artefacts... but help me out here and clarify; what is that - rather funny - apparatus? A metal detector on wheels?
Anyway, make sure to watch this great 'revealing' video by Birmingham University Archaeology, and applaud them for filming the excavation and making that large an amount of image material and information available on the web.
Staffordshire Hoard Dig Video
I guess this is part of a bigger 'archaeology 2.0' move, which I can only applaud (and enjoy). I believe the only other 'find' to get it's own domain - and Twitter tag, use - #staffshoard - before, was the skeleton Ida. Miss Ida did get elected to Google logo of the day, maybe that kind of fame is upcoming for the Staffordshire Hoard too?
But even if that does not happen, no way you can disagree with Portable Antiquities' Dr. Kevin Leahy: "The quality of the collection is supreme! 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. It is going to be hard to forget the Midlands after this!"
And with a 'scrap' value of over £100,000 (the Hoard contains approximately 5kg of gold and 1.3kg of silver, by contrast the Sutton Hoo find contained 1.6kg of precious metals) this must have surely made at least one person's day. *goes to look on Amazon for second handed metal detectors*
If you're still in doubt about the - excuse me the word - awesomeness of this Treasure from the Kingdom of Mercia, make sure to have a look at Heritage Key's top 5 picks (which we really wouldn't mind keeping on on our desks)! ;)
PS. I'm stuck in the 'virtual digging' game in the Village reconstruction. I'm using metal detecting as a technique, and found something, as it goes *beep* *beep* *beeeeeeeeep*, but no flag shows up, and I'm unable to claim my find. Any cheats or solutions?
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hello this is a real interesting article on forgeries
excellent article !
Museum looks really great.
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There are really lots of secrets in Egypt. I'm sure this is going to cost millions in auction.
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That's one scary mummy. Thanks for letting us know this. I find it really informational.
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Comments
Archaeologists have discovered a Staffordshire Knot (or Stafford Knot) symbol among the treasures of the Staffordshire Hoard, making the county sign 500 years older than previously thought. Images of the knot were found on a gold artefact, not previously on display, that was dug up from a field near Brownhills this summer. The symbol was believed to originate from the 11th century, but the gold artefact dates back to at least the sixth century. (A more entertaining version says the knot was invented so a hangman for the Stafford goal could hang three criminals simultaneously, evading the dilemme of whom he should hang first.) This discovery is seen as yet another pressing reason to raise enough funds to purchase the hoard 'locally' and to keep the Staffordshire Hoard in the area.
You will have heard of the Brown Hill Hoard
Our worthy warrior prince, a well-loved shield brother, great in battle,
High born in the blood of Woden and Offa, wielding war-gear,
ripped with terrible and bitter blows from fearless men,
now Hell possessed, fell breathe-choked at the Brown Hill.
Wary and fearful of the Danes in the East, and reaching into the forest,
the hoard, no less great than his many hard-won and famed victories,
is slipped under the forest floor, out of harm’s way.
Safe in the earth’s keeping, the hard won scrap-gold rests.
What treasures: bright red stones from far distant lands, all wrapped in gold; the crumpled cross of the Wielder of Glory; and Beasts of The Book.
War-gear wrought with skill: sword-fixings; hilts; cheek-pieces; arm-bands.
The finest war-trappings of the finest men, battle-fallen and gone.
In time a finder comes, Walh halh born, a wood-skilled earth-scourer,
scrap-finder of renown, following the ploughman, a son of John.
Around his Feast Day he tilled the treasure, unlocked the hoard.
Now all hail the ancient and forgotten sword-heroes of middle earth.
P.S. The nearest museum to Brownhills is at Walh halh and context is everything: http://www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/about
A quick update, a 'second' dig is being held at the Staffordshire Hoard site. They are not digging for gold, but rather, hoping these excavations will reveal how come the hoard was buried/abandoned/whatever at the location. No trace of buildings has been found yet.