Haul of fame
THIS chilly November day is an important one in the history of Staffordshire. It is the day that we find out exactly how much the Anglo Saxon treasure unearthed from a farmer's field is worth and the effect this this will have on what we know of our local history.
It has been four months since the Staffordshire Hoard was found in a field belonging to farmer Fred Johnson by metal detecting enthusiast Terry Herbert, and we have patiently waited to find out how much it is worth and how we are going to keep it in the Midlands.
The answer to both these questions is £3.285 million that is what the 1,600 pieces are worth and that is what the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, in Stoke on Trent, must raise in order to jointly share and display the treasure.
Fortunately, all those involved seem to agree that the money MUST be raised and even the British Museum in London is doing its bit to help bring in the funds.
Having produced a book about the find, the museum is donating £1 from every sale to the cause. The rest of the work is up to the museums themselves who will now have to approach various grant giving organisations in the hope that they can help.
But what of the treasure itself? The value placed on the find surely leaves nobody in any doubt as to its historical importance, least of all Dr Gareth Williams of the Coins and Medals department at the British Museum in London. "This is the largest find of its kind and raises a number of questions," he says. "The material is quite unusual and appears to have come from a battlefield, but there are also crosses and religious artefacts there. During the period we believe it came from, we have accounts of monks travelling with soldiers and praying for them so this is a plausible explanation. The problem is that nothing is precisely dateable."
What they do know, is that this find pre dates the time when there would have been a single king of England. Instead, the country was split into smaller kingdoms with everyone fighting each other. At the heart of it all was Mercia. It is possible that the treasure belonged to one of these Mercian kings and that it was abandoned by them for some reason.
One possible theory is presented by Dr Williams. "We know that in or around 679 a battle was fought, known as the battle of the Trent. We are unsure as to its exact location all we know is that it was somewhere near the Trent. An army invaded the area and were defeated by the Mercians. It is also thought that the King's brother was killed during the battle."
There are two possible theories that sit with this battle. One is that anything of value was taken and buried for security, with other items like swords being melted down so that the metal could be re-used. This theory raises another question - why did they not return for hoard? Perhaps they were unable to find it when they returned.
The other theory that Dr Williams puts, is that the gold was buried for a more meaningful reason, although it is this idea that would be the hardest to prove. "If the gold pre dates Christianity," he says "then it is possible that the Mercians stripped the invaders of their wealth and buried it as part of a symbolic ritual. If was at a time when Christianity was more popular, then it becomes less likely. But of course, you could argue that an entire nation wouldn't change religion over night."
There are other ideas as to the origins of the hoard and one thought, held by the man tasked with cataloguing the treasure when it was first uncovered, Dr Kevin Leahy, is that the Mercian craftsmen made it themselves.
Dr Leahy says the find will change historians' perceptions of the Anglo-Saxon period and the independent kingdom of Mercia; which once covered a huge swathe of central England; and has his own theory about the origins of the hoard.
"In the past, the Anglo Saxon period has been overwhelmingly biased towards Kent and East Anglia, with discoveries like Sutton Hoo, in Suffolk, but this really moves it across to Mercia," he says.
"Were the Mercians making the stuff themselves? I suspect they were. WeÕve always known that Mercia was big league, and their kings were powerful enough to attract the very best craftsmen."
Dr Leahy says the content of the hoard, overwhelmingly composed of weaponry, suggests it is a collection of items retrieved as the spoils from a battle or series of battles by a Mercian king.
How it got there and why are questions that are likely to be at the root of many a speculation for years to come. But what we do know is that a find like this can only be a good thing for Staffordshire and the Midlands. Not only does it put our local history on the map, but it can only be a boost for the local economy.
Placing such a price on the hoard will raise its profile, but it was not a decision that was reached lightly. The find would have been reviewed by an independent committee, appointed by the government and consisting of a range of experts, all at the top of their field. Four separate, preliminary valuations would have been made before a price was agreed and those who disagreed would have the right to appeal.
Fortunately in this case, everyone was certain of the hoards value, making the process a relatively quick one by comparison.
The Treasure Valuation Committee then met in London on Wednesday, November 25 to recommend the value to the Secretary of State and this was quickly agreed with Birmingham and Stoke City Councils as well as the finder and landowner of the Hoard. "It is great to have a real target to aim for, said Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culturem Councillor Martin Mullaney. "We are already talking to major potential funders to help us acquire the hoard and bring it home to it's rightful place in the ancient kingdom of Mercia.
"Over 42,000 people saw the treasure when it was displayed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in September, and thanks to the generosity of the public we have already raised almost £40,000 towards the fundraising total.
"This will take a huge, co-ordinated fundraising effort to raise, and we have already been working hard with partners and had early discussions with fundraising bodies. We want as many people as possible to support the campaign and help ensure we keep the treasure in the region."
The two authorities have been given four months to raise the money needed and a further public appeal is thought to increase the funds already raised. The campaign has already gained the support of Government Office West Midlands and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. Both authorities has already been involved in talks with funding bodies the Heritage Lottery Fund, Art Fund and National Heritage Memorial Fund. A selection of approximately 80 of the most significant pieces, including items that have not yet been seen by the public, will go on display at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent from Saturday, February 13.
Collection boxes for public donations are available in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery for donations or on line at www.bmag.org.uk/support-us.
The book by Dr Kevin Leahy and Roger Bland from the British Museum is available exclusively from Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery shop, The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent and on-line at www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk and retails at £4.99 with a £1 from each sale going towards the Hoard Appeal.
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