Anglo-Saxons seize the spotlight
The discovery of the Staffordshire Hoat propelled early medieval England into the nation's consciousness
Some finds add a few brushstrokes to our understanding of a historical period. Others, like the Staffordshire Hoard, change the picture completely. Detectorist Terry Herbert's discovery of 4,600 fragments of seventh-century war-gear and other objects in a field near the village of Hammerwich in 2009 was the find of a lifetime. But it was a lot more than that. It turned the early Anglo-Saxon period, swathes of which have long been shrouded in obscurity, into a topic of genuine public interest. Suddenly—thanks to exquisite pieces such as a possible representation of a Jewish priest's crown, and the Staffordshire helmet, pieced together from hundreds of precious fragments— the world saw the craftsmanship and sheer exuberance of Anglo-Saxon art. The Staffordshire Hoard — parts of which are on display at the Birmingham Museum Et Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent — raised many questions, of course. Was it buried as loot, or hidden for security? Could it have been a ritual offering? Why is feminine jewellery — the gold object most commonly recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme among seventh-century finds — entirely absent? Attempting to get to the bottom of these puzzles will only increase our fascination with this remarkable find, and the period in English history that produced it. Kevin Leahy, national finds adviser, PAS