Ten years ago on 5 July 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard was discovered in a farmer’s field near Lichfield.
The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever discovered and has been seen by over four million people at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (PMAG) since it was discovered, and by many more at travelling exhibitions as far reaching as Washington DC.
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary, the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery has launched a revamped Staffordshire Hoard exhibition, with several star objects returning to the gallery for the first time in years. These include a stunning original cheek piece from the famous Staffordshire Hoard Helmet. An iconic pectoral cross, a stunning pommel cap, and other pieces of the helmet will also be back in the exhibition.
Several other exciting events will take place at the museum as part of the celebration including re-enactments, demonstrations, birds of prey presentations and talks.
The original response to the Staffordshire Hoard discovery in 2009 was huge with over 55,000 people visiting the display at PMAG in the first three weeks.
There are around 4,000 fragments and artefacts within the Staffordshire Hoard which were crafted between the mid-sixth and mid-seventh centuries AD and buried between 650-675 AD. They combine to a total of 5.094 kilos of gold, 1.442 kilos of silver and 3,500 cloisonné garnets.
Toby Watley, Director of Collections at Birmingham Museums Trust, said:
“With the research still to be revealed, the Staffordshire Hoard will continue to bring history to life and inspire generations to come.”
From 2014 to 2017, the Staffordshire Hoard was studied as part of the major research project on the treasure funded by Historic England and the museums which care for the collection, which will be revealed later this year. Barbican Research Associates conducted the research, and the Society of Antiquaries of London is the publisher.
The Staffordshire Hoard is on permanent display at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent.
Find out more at birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/highlights/staffordshire-hoard and staffordshirehoard.org.uk.
PHOTOS: BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM TRUST
