Historic gold find surpasses Sutton Hoo
ARCHAEOLOGISTS are beginning the task of cataloguing the largest-ever hoard of Anglo Saxon gold ever found after it was discovered by a 55-year-old metal detectorist.
ARCHAEOLOGISTS are beginning the task of cataloguing the largest-ever hoard of Anglo Saxon gold ever found after it was discovered by a 55-year-old metal detectorist.
Terry Herbert, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, came across the hoard as he searched a field near his home with his trusty 14-year-old detector in July.
Experts said the collection of more than 1,500 pieces - which will be officially classified by a coroner as treasure today - is unparalleled in size and may have belonged to Saxon royalty.
The hoard, believed to date back to the Seventh Century, contains around 5kg of Gold and 2.5kg of silver, far bigger than previous finds - including the famous Sutton Hoo burial site in Suffolk.
You may also want to watch:
It may take more than a year to value the collection and, given its scale, the financial worth of the hoard cannot be estimated.
Many of the items in the hoard are warfare paraphernalia, including sword pommel caps and hilt plates, often inlaid with precious stones.
Most Read
- 1 Tributes paid to inspirational Ipswich teenager Harrison Boyd, 13
- 2 Four men arrested after man dies at Felixstowe lorry park
- 3 Woman sexually assaulted near Ipswich Waterfront
- 4 Three fire engines called to Ipswich flat fire
- 5 Man jailed after safe stolen from Spread Eagle pub
- 6 Superhero send off planned for 'charismatic and cheeky' Alexander, 15
- 7 Members of 'notorious' Ipswich gang jailed for 19 years
- 8 The places with the highest and lowest levels of Covid in Suffolk
- 9 Jailed in Suffolk: J Block gang members and man who attacked train station staff
- 10 Updated: Bury Road reopened after two car collision near BMW garage
The exact location of the discovery has not been disclosed but it is understood to be near the Lichfield border in South Staffordshire.
