A hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure, including a pendant worth over £50,000, which is believed to have belonged to an important ruler, has been discovered in a potato field.
A gold pendant, two bronze bowls and iron weaponry, including a spear head, two arrow heads and the fragments of a sword, have been found by metal detector enthusiast Alan Smith in Louth, Lincolnshire...
Anglo-Saxon treasure trove discovered in potato field
A hoard of Anglo Saxon treasure dating back more than 1,500 years has been dug up in a potato field
Nicola Harley
5 NOVEMBER 2016
The Telegraph
A hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure, including a pendant worth over £50,000, which is believed to have belonged to an important ruler, has been discovered in a potato field.
A gold pendant, two bronze bowls and iron weaponry, including a spear head, two arrow heads and the fragments of a sword, have been found by metal detector enthusiast Alan Smith.
It is the third important archaeological find in Louth, Lincolnshire, in the last eight months.
Anglo-Saxon pendant found in potato field in Louth
Dr Adam Daubney from Lincolnshire County Council said the items must have belonged to someone of high status, possibly a local ruler, and date back to the 7th century.
They were in a burial mound in the field near Louth.
“This is a once in a lifetime discovery," said Dr Daubney.
"The finds date to the Seventh Century, a time when the elite in society were often being buried in barrows – small artificial mounds of earth.
Anglo-Saxon treasure found in Louth
"The individual would either have been placed into a grave within the mound, or perhaps even into a chamber which was then covered over.
"This form of burial is a powerful display of status. Not only was the individual being buried with a large amount of wealth, the burial mound also became a permanent feature in the landscape.
"This elaborate form of burial has often been seen as evidence for the emergence of kingship."
Experts at the British Museum are assessing the value of the discovery but it is estimated to be worth thousands of pounds.
The largest Anglo-Saxon treasure was discovered in 2009.
The 3,500 pieces of the Staffordshire Hoard found in Lichfield are valued at £3.2m.
Lincolnshire
Anglo-Saxon treasure trove discovered in potato field
A gold pendant, two bronze bowls and iron weaponry, including a spear head, two arrow heads and the fragments of a sword, have been found by metal detector enthusiast Alan Smith in Louth, Lincolnshire...
Anglo-Saxon treasure trove discovered in potato field
A hoard of Anglo Saxon treasure dating back more than 1,500 years has been dug up in a potato field
Nicola Harley
5 NOVEMBER 2016
The Telegraph
A hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure, including a pendant worth over £50,000, which is believed to have belonged to an important ruler, has been discovered in a potato field.
A gold pendant, two bronze bowls and iron weaponry, including a spear head, two arrow heads and the fragments of a sword, have been found by metal detector enthusiast Alan Smith.
It is the third important archaeological find in Louth, Lincolnshire, in the last eight months.
Anglo-Saxon pendant found in potato field in Louth
Dr Adam Daubney from Lincolnshire County Council said the items must have belonged to someone of high status, possibly a local ruler, and date back to the 7th century.
They were in a burial mound in the field near Louth.
“This is a once in a lifetime discovery," said Dr Daubney.
"The finds date to the Seventh Century, a time when the elite in society were often being buried in barrows – small artificial mounds of earth.
Anglo-Saxon treasure found in Louth
"The individual would either have been placed into a grave within the mound, or perhaps even into a chamber which was then covered over.
"This form of burial is a powerful display of status. Not only was the individual being buried with a large amount of wealth, the burial mound also became a permanent feature in the landscape.
"This elaborate form of burial has often been seen as evidence for the emergence of kingship."
Experts at the British Museum are assessing the value of the discovery but it is estimated to be worth thousands of pounds.
The largest Anglo-Saxon treasure was discovered in 2009.
The 3,500 pieces of the Staffordshire Hoard found in Lichfield are valued at £3.2m.
Lincolnshire
Anglo-Saxon treasure trove discovered in potato field
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