[Happy Cat]

Here is something that I find interesting: htt://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk

From an AP report by Raphhael G. Satter in the local newspaper: htt://hamptonroads.com/pilotonline

Quote

An amateur treasure hunter prowling English farmland with a metal detector stumbled upon the largest Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found, a massive seventh-century hoard of gold and silver sword decorations, crosses and other items, British archaeologists said Thursday.
One expert said the treasure found by 55-year old Terry Herbert would revolutionize understanding of the Anglo-Saxons, a Germanic people who ruled England from the fifth century until the Norman conquest in 1066. Another said the find would rank among Britain's best-known historic treasures.
"This is just a fantastic find completely out of the blue," said Roger Bland, who managed the cache's excavation. "It will make us rethink the Dark Ages."

The report goes on to say:

Quote

Bland said the hoard was unearthed in what was once Mercia, one of five main Anglo-Saon kingdoms, and is thought to date to 675 to 725AD.
The hoard cosists of at least 650 items of gold and 530 silver objects, along with some copper alloy, garnets and glass.

The report goes on to describe the find, a little about the history of the times
from which items come from, and about the man who found them. He was unemployed and had used a metal detector he had bought for about $6 US to make the find on a friends farm.
The experts equalates the find to the finding of Tutankhamen's tomb.
I don't really know much about English history, much less this time period, so if any one would step up and enlighten me a little more, that would be great. This is a pretty cool deal either way.

[Coco with marshmallows]

For once, Wikipedia is actually useful, and largely factual as best as i recall it:

anglo saxon history

Its a fairly big deal as the time period that the hoard is meant to be from is basically the peak period of anglo saxon
culture, which roughly equates with the dark ages.

Essentially they were the kingdoms that arose after the Romans buggered off to do what romans do (kill each other over a shrinking empire)


This was before hordes of ravening Aptorian's, Gem Windcaster's, etc, came across the seas and started invading of course.

[Amaunet]

Lots of sparkle!
If you want to find out more of the time and the place via the easy route of fiction, Bernard Cornwell ( the guy who wrote the Sharpe series) has two series of books covering the beginning and the end of the Saxon period of England.

[Macros]

because its treasure, afaik, the poor chap doesn't get a penny for the find

[Bhurnae]

He gets money based on the value by a panel. Period is what is known as the dark ages inasmuch as we dont know much about it. Received wisdom is we reverted to barbarism after the Romans disappeared but finds like this lean towards disproving this. Google Sutton Hoo for the last large trove find..........

[Edielin]

Under the "Treasure Trove" definition, yes, he does get money, based on what the treasures are worth. That's decided by a panel, I believe, and the actual artefacts are handed over. So yes, he'll make a lot - but not quite as much as they're worth.

[Macros]

I thought there was some silly treasure trove law that lady Q gets the lot

[Happy Cat]

I don't know why link to the newspaper will not show the article but I still have it. So this is what it says about the payout.

Quote

The hoard was officially declared treasure, which means it will now be valued by a committee of experts and offered up for sale to a museum. Proceeds would be split 50-50 between Herbert and his farmer friend, who has not been identified. The finds's exact locaton is being kept secret to deter looters.

Bland said he could not give a precise figure for the worth of the hoard, but he said the treasure hunter could be in line for a "seven-figure sum."

This post has been edited by Happy Cat: 27 September 2009 - 02:48 AM

[Hinter]

I found 10p, using a metal detector, on the beach at Ilfracombe when I was six. I was overjoyed. My Mum told me yesterday that my Dad had planted it when I was not looking -

Spoiler

it was almost as bad as when she told me Father Christmas didn't exist.

[Happy Cat]

Hinter, on 27 September 2009 - 02:49 PM, said:

I found 10p, using a metal detector, on the beach at Ilfracombe when I was six. I was overjoyed. My Mum told me yesterday that my Dad had planted it when I was not looking -

Spoiler

it was almost as bad as when she told me Father Christmas didn't exist.

WHAT! NO! SAY ITS NOT TRUE