• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

The Staffordshire Hoard and its Historical Significance.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Staffordshire Hoard is the inclusion of a small number of objects of obvious Christian significance. One of these is a gold strip which is inscribed with a somewhat misspelled version of part of Numbers chapter 10 verse 35 from the Old Testament:
[Cumque elevaretur arca, dicebat Moses,] Surge domine, et dissipentur inimici tui, et fugiant qui oderunt te, a facie tua. [Vulgate.]

[And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said,] Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. [King James Bible.]​
Professor Michelle Brown has suggested that the style of lettering dates from the 7th or early 8th centuries. This unique inscription helps to date the entire hoard.

Another clearly Christian object is a decorated cross (described by Lloyd in post #2), crudely folded, possibly to conserve space. The official website comments that the "lack of apparent respect shown to this Christian symbol may point to the Hoard being buried by pagans, but Christians were also quite capable of despoiling each other’s shrines."
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I believe that in the 7th/8th C, Mercia was divided between the vikings and anglo saxons and that the internal fighting and movment of the indiginus population fluctuated. The hoard could have been buried for safety, or be a viking loot hoard, the problem with this period that apart from the monastic orders very little documentaion or record keeping has come down, and those that have are usually second hand and those that were written at the time burned with the monastry's and the monks. It was't till the late 9th early 10th C, that especially in Wessex that factual recorded accounts survived.
 
Think they said that they burried it hoping to get it back after battle, but they were all killed, and it remained burried for 1500 years (or something like that).
 
BNAG's Staffordshire Hoard conservationists picked up the Pilgrim Trust Award tonight from the Institute of Conservation (ICON) 2015 awards ceremony. One of two Birmingham conservation projects to receive an award, the other being the Coffin Works. Congratulations. Viv.
 
Had no idea that "crested Helmets were in use in Northern Europe, outside of the Greek empire, and Roman Empire. Strange, but as this is the only one to be officially established by experts, must be. Paul
 
The Staffordshire Hoard, what does it tell us…Historic England Blog latest.

heritagecalling.com

The Historic England Blog

Discover the oldest English castle contenders, including the Norman Berkhamsted Castle, Windsor Castle, Dover Castle and The White Tower, London.
heritagecalling.com heritagecalling.com
 
Very interesting.
There are some very spectacular pieces in the collection with such fine workmanship - I queued to at the Birmingham Museum when some of the pieces were first shown - what a find!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top