Another Detecting find changes perception of Anglo Saxon Britian

[BAJR Host]

?This is going to alter our perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England? as radically, if not more so, as the Sutton Hoo discoveries. Absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells.?
Leslie Webster

Yes its another good story.

Although the finder did continue digging longer than would be best, they did then report it. And this allowed Birmingham Archaeology with other partners to thoroughly investigate the site.

This does seem to be an increasing picture of recognition that
a) archaeologists don't bite
b) it is essential to get us in as soon as possible to ensure more than just the objects are recovered.
c) it benefits us all.

see it all here
http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk

[BAJR Host]

ps... first person that says ooooh gets a slap! :face-confused:

[BAJR Host]

http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/view/386/s...fordshire/

for an ITN video report

[BAJR Host]

Question I have... and others for that matter....

the hoard is in quite good nick... but was located in a ploughed field... indeed, look at this image...



so how was this possible, was the ploughing a recent event?

[TheDoc]

Ooohhhh! Seriously, I think all those involved are to be commended for the swiftness with which the images, provisional catalogue, videos and all the other information has come out, enabling everyone to start forming their own opinions. This is undoubtedly one of the finds of the past century and the detectorist deserves praise for his actions too. I wonder, is this going to fall under the heading of "national importance" and so be destined for the British Museum, or is it going to stay local? An absolute nightmare to value I expect.

[Jennie]

I think this can only help with the delicate relationship between metal detectorists and archaeologists, without the detectorist we might not have found about this priceless find.

[BAJR Host]

indeedly doo!

And interesting whether the treasures are spirited away down to the Londonshire Museum ? Answers on a post card! Would be better where it was found! Bring in tourism for certain... Renaissance of the Regions anyone?

[BAJR Host]

Visitors to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are able to see a selection of the items until 13 October.

[diggingthedirt]

Question I have... and others for that matter....

the hoard is in quite good nick... but was located in a ploughed field... indeed, look at this image...

A friend of mine was at the press conference in Brum yesterday, and it seems that shortly before the discovery, the land had been deep ploughed with soil turned to a considerable depth. The double jeopardy here was that the field was due for some pretty intensive chemical treatment (I'm vague on this bit), but the upshot was that little would have survived that process. The presumption (because of the preservation) is that everything was contained until very recently, although no evidence of a casket or even a pit was identified. There are some pieces that look that they may have originally been fastenings that could have been part of the original container, but these are early days.

I know that some of you will have other positive stories, and many will have very strong opinions to the contrary, but this whole escapade is probably the first time I've ever really grasped the archaeological value of metal detectorists.

[BAJR Host]

They will be glad to hear that.. and I hoipe that detectorists in return (as many do) understand the value of archaeologists in this as well.

It is a case of if he had not found these, this year, they would have been destroyed... no doubt about it