Reflections on the Staffordshire Hoard, glittering war-gear from 7th century AD Britain

Abstract

The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest ‘treasure’ ever found from the early medieval period, discovered by a metal detectorist near Lichfield (north of Birmingham), in July 2009. It contains a unique combination of extraordinary objects ― mostly of the warrior elite but also with stunning items of the emerging church. Made mainly between c. 570 and c. 650 AD, almost all are in gold or silver, many with inlaid garnets, and they display exquisite craftwork and artistry. They include fittings dismantled from swords, saddles, reliquaries, a cross-standard and a kingly helmet. This talk will review the collection and consider how it has transformed our understanding of the period.

The Medieval Seminar Series is sponsored by the World Archaeology Section at the UCL Institute of Archaeology and the British Museum. 

• The programme for the 2023-24 Institute of Archaeology/British Museum Medieval Seminar Series is available here»

Seminar Series Convenors:

• Sue Brunning (British Museum)
• Andrew Reynolds (Institute of Archaeology)

Meetings Secretary:

• Iain MacDonald (Institute of Archaeology)