Tag: Stirling hoard

Abbasid Gold Coin Haul Discovered in Lost Egyptian Monastery

Polish excavators have found a clay vessel containing dozens of gold coins in Egypt. Image Credit - SCA. A Polish archaeological team has discovered a decorated clay vessel containing dozens of gold coins at a lost monastery in Egypt. The find was made in a room of the Archangel Gabriel monastery (Deir Malek Gubrail) in Naqlun, in the Fayum Oasis, by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of Warsaw University. SCA chief Zahi Hawass says the hoard’s 18 coins and 62 coin fragments are dated to Egypt’s Abbasid Period, which ruled northern regions between 750 and 1258 AD.

Team leader Wlodzimierz Godlewski says the monastic complex of Naqlun was built at the beginning of the 6th century AD. Yet the hoard, found beneath a collapsed wall, dates to around a hundred years later. A chandelier and lamp, both bronze, were also found at the site.

The monastery was lost to a huge fire between the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th century AD. Its creation is steeped in myth: according to the legend, an orphaned boy named Oor had a vision of the Virgin Mary and Archangel Gabriel, who told him to build a monastery in the desert.

Christian Monasteries form a little-heralded part of Egyptian culture; forgotten through its rich ancient history. Heritage Key features a video about the restoration of the beautiful Saint Anthony monastery (Deir Mar Antonios) on the Red Sea coast.

The hoard's 18 coins and 62 coin fragments are dated to Egypt's Abbasid Period. Image Credit - SCA.

It’s been a good year for coin hoards. January saw a massive 824 Roman gold coins unearthed near Wickham Market, Suffolk, England. And September saw an even bigger haul hit the headlines, when 10,000 Roman coins were found near York, England. Both discoveries were made by amateur enthusiasts wielding metal detectors; the same equipment that this year turned up the spectacular Staffordshire and Stirling Hoards – the former recently being valued at 3million-plus.

Pictures of the Staffordshire Hoard at the British Museum

As blogged earlier today, the Staffordshire Hoard made its way to London’s British Museum this week, to feverish public interest. And not wanting to miss out on the party, Heritage Key took a trip to Bloomsbury today, to give you a first-hand look at how it has been laid out for the capital’s history lovers. As you can see, there weren’t queues tailed back hundreds of yards outside the building – as was the case at earlier displays in Birmingham – but interest was high, with HK struggling to burst through the crowd for some decent shots.

Only a handful of treasures makes the display, but the headline pieces are all there

There may only be a handful of the magnificent gold on show at the makeshift exhibition, but what’s there ranks among the find’s most astonishing pieces. The twisted gold cross that has become the hoard’s emblem is there, as is the Latin-inscribed band, and helmet fragments. Info is laid out on three handy wall displays – and that’s about it! No fancy hall or lavish branding, just a trio of glass cases with scant decoration. Perhaps the recently-found Stirling Iron Age gold will find more copious surroundings when its fate is decided a year from now.

A Success?

Maybe the display will prompt more to venture north when the hoard is purchased by a syndicate of midlands museums, as is widely expected. Or perhaps the spartan layout will disappoint those used to the BM’s traditionally OTT exhibitions. Either way, it’s good for Britain’s biggest Saxon haul to see the capital, before it heads back to its Mercian homeland.

You can see more pictures of the treasures in their new makeshift home at Heritage Key’s Flickr group!

Do you have any news or comments about the Staffordshire Hoard’s new home? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, either via the comments box below, our contact page or by emailing me direct!

First Pictures of Stirling Iron Age Gold Hoard Treasure

David Booth proudly shows off his lucky finds, worth an estimated 1 million. Picture by Sandy Young. As blogged by Sean yesterday, a precious hoard of Iron Age gold treasures worth an estimated 1 million has been discovered by a first-time metal detector enthusiast near Stirling. It was unveiled to the media at an event at the National Museum of Scotland this morning. The collection was described as the most important hoard of Iron Age gold found in Scotland to date.

The Stirling Hoard: Gold Iron Age Torcs

The artefacts four neck ornaments of European significance, dating from between the 1st and 3rd centuries BC were discovered by a local man, David Booth, on private land back in September (the precise location has been kept secret, so as to prevent a mini gold-rush at the spot). One of them is slightly damaged; the others are in near-perfect condition.

Two of the pieces are ribbon torcs, which was a local style of jewellery made from twisting rigid pieces of gold. Another is half of an ornate torc of southern French origin to date the only artefact of its kind found in Britain. The fourth is a unique braided gold wire torc, which shows a strong Mediterranean influence.

The treasure of the Stirling Iron Age Gold. Image Credit - Sandy Young.

They would have most likely belonged to an important and powerful local leader, and been worn as a way of showing off his wealth, importance and ability to trade precious goods with the continent.

What is going to happen to the treasure?

When not out metal detecting, Mr Booth reportedly works as the chief game warden at Blair Drummond Safari Park. He may have fed his last lion if the million pound valuation of the hoard based on the 350,000 figure a similar torc found in Newark, Nottinghamshire in 2005 sold for is accurate.

In accordance with the treasure trove statutes of common Scots law, while the pieces technically now belong to the Crown via The Queens and Lord Treasurers Remembrancer (QLTR) Mr Booth stands to net a sizeable ex-gratia reward payment, since the QLTR generously recognises the contribution of members of the public who make chance finds.

Dr David Caldwell, representing the Treasure Trove Unit the body based at the National Museum of Scotland which is currently holding the items on behalf of the QLTR commented:

The torcs are currently in the care of the Treasure Trove Unit, which is responsible for the care of antiquities found in Scotland on behalf of the Crown. The Treasure Trove Unit along with a team from National Museums Scotland is continuing to excavate and analyse the find.

When and where will the Stirling Hoard go on display?

Its not yet been decided if or when the hoard will go on display. Its up to the Scottish Archaeological Finds Advisory Panel (SAFAP) an independent body, acting on behalf of The Treasure Trove Unit to make that call. Voices have already begun calling for reassurance that the artefacts will remain in Scotland, lest they end up expatriated to an English museum like the Lewis Chessmen.

David Booth with the Stirling treasure. Image Credit - Sandy Young.

David Booth. Image Credit - Sandy Young.

Dr Fiona Watson, a research associate at the UHI Millennium Institutes Centre for History, yesterday commented to the Scotsman: The neckbands are of such national significance that they must be kept in Scotland. In the past something like this would have gone to London, but there is no way they should leave Scotland.

An official announcement on the hoards fate isnt expected until next year. Until then: feast your eyes on these first pics.