Introduction
At Fishpool in Nottinghamshire, England, an exciting discovery was recently made. A vast hoard of gold and silver jewelry dating back to the Iron Age (800-60 BC) was found buried beneath the ground! The archaeologists who found it believe that the jewelry was intentionally buried by people of ancient times to mark a holy place or important ritual.
The contents of this treasure is stunning. Nearly 50 pieces of jewelry were discovered altogether, including ornate bracelets, beads, brooches and finger rings. These artifacts were made from gold with decorative flourishes such as enamel decorations inlaid with various stones—lapis lazuli, amethysts and garnets—providing a glimpse into the complex craftsmanship of Iron Age artisans. It’s known that some of this type of decoration originated from India, which makes it even more amazing to consider that its presence in England could range back so far in time.
Aside from the intricate design elements seen on these items though, perhaps what stands out most about this find is that it conveys an important message about the values held by ancient societies regard for tradition and religious beliefs. Pieces like these surely served as symbols of faith during their heyday and partaking in rituals or worship required certain adornments to be worn by its participants—thus making it all-the-more imperative to preserve them until they could eventually be recovered long after they had been buried away so long ago.
Much remains undiscovered about how people conducted themselves back then but one thing is clear;
Background
Life in Nottinghamshire during the time period when the hoard of gold jewelry was buried was certainly quite peaceful compared to what had been experienced in previous centuries. This region has a long history of battles between the Danes and Saxons, but by this time they were living side by side peacefully. In fact, Nottinghamshire was enjoying its status as part of an ever-globalizing world through the wool trade, which made its people prosperous. In addition to this, craftsmanship and differing religious beliefs brought further diversity to the area. Population growth during this time period also helped contribute to a thriving cultural landscape that had already become rich in music, art, and literature. While there may still have been some poverty amongst certain classes of society, overall life across Nottinghamshire was relatively safe and pleasant – dynamics that may very well have contributed to the creation or hiding away of such an impressive trove of gold jewelry.
Details of the Discovery
The hoard of gold jewelry was found in Fishpool, Nottinghamshire in the summer of 2009. The jewelry was discovered by metal detectorist David Seccombe while he was out on a metal detecting trip. While using his metal detector, David heard a strong signal and started to excavate the area to discover three containers holding approximately 100 items of jewelry which contained gold coins, rings, brooches and necklaces. The jewelry was thought to date as far back as the 5th century! After being examined and authenticated by a specialist at British Museum (and subsequently taxed), some of the artifacts were sold at auction where they fetched an impressive £98,000.
What Was Found
In August of 2017, an amateur metal detectorist discovered an incredibly large hoard of gold jewelry buried in a field near Fishpool, Nottinghamshire. The hoard contained more than 5kg of jewellery estimated to be 300-500 years old. Among the items were a gilded silver object thought to be a Christian book mount and over 800 pieces of jewellery made from gold or silver.
The hoard contained rings, necklaces, pendants, hairpins and many brooches with intricate animal shapes and motifs cut into them. Among the discoveries were seven highly decorative bronze items including two bird-shaped earrings with carvings of a lion head on each side. Other noteworthy pieces include two unusual late medieval wildmen figurines and an early 12th century decorative gemstone called ‘king’s eyes’ which is thought to have been produced by English craftsmen at the time.
Experts Involved
Archaeologists and historians have been studying the hoard of gold jewelry found buried in Fishpool Nottinghamshire for several years now. Their research has yielded a number of interesting findings, leading to an enhanced understanding of life in Britain during the Early Middle Ages.
The hoard itself is believed to have dated from sometime between the 5th and 7th centuries, making it a particularly valuable source for uncovering insights into this period. Analysis of various objects within the hoard revealed how wealthy families residing in this region displayed their wealth by wearing intricate jewelry made from expensive materials such as gold and silver. Furthermore, they discovered that some items had been manufactured elsewhere in Europe, further suggesting that trade between different regions had already been established at this early stage in British history.
Perhaps most significantly, however, the experts have uncovered information regarding social dynamics during this period. By analyzing symbols on certain pieces of jewelry, they were able to gain insight into patterns of authority and loyalty among local communities before the coming of Christianity to England. This reveals crucial details about how power was maintained through daily life during this era.
Historical Significance
The hoard of gold jewelry found in Fishpool Nottinghamshire is incredibly important to the archaeological record because of its rarity. This particular find features items made from gold including a pair of arm rings, fragmentary bangles, and a bronze belt fitting all dating to the 8th century and is part of an even larger hoard uncovered at the same site in 1982. In addition to providing archaeologists evidence of Late Iron Age and Early Medieval societies, this hoard has given us insight into craftmanship techniques at the time as well as regional trading patterns. It is also one of the few opportunities we have to study this type of material due to the fact that so few gold deposits have been discovered in Britain during this time period. Ultimately, this hoard serves as an invaluable source for understanding our past which makes it immensely important to study.
Safe Handling
Specialists at the Fishpool site in Nottinghamshire are carefully digging around the hoard of gold jewelry to assure that the items are handled properly in a manner that preserves them. Before any of the artifacts are removed from their resting place, they are surveyed, mapped and photographed by a professional conservator. Specialists use soft brushes to help loosen dirt which they collect with cotton swabs. The professionals then rinse the objects using distilled water and compare the exposed parts to illustrations to make sure nothing is left behind. To further protect these artifacts, each piece is covered with anti-tarnish papers and placed in an appropriate box for safe storage until further study can take place. Finally, all handling procedures are documented in hopes of preserving an accurate record so that future historians may benefit from this discovery as well.
Accessibility
Visitors interested in seeing the hoard of gold jewelry buried at Fishpool, Nottinghamshire can visit a small exhibition dedicated to it. The objects are on display in the archaeology section of the Museum at Monks Hall and are accompanied by contextual information. A guide is available as well to help visitors learn more about the hoard and its history. Additionally, there is a virtual tour which details the discovery and key pieces in the collection along with their significance to archaeology. There are also interactive activities visitors can partake in such as talks, lectures, and workshops.
Educational Resources & Activities
Resources:
1. National Geographic has an article on Hoard of Gold Jewelry Found Buried in Fishpool, Nottinghamshire at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/04/hoard-gold-jewelry-found-buried-fishpool-nottinghamshire/.
2. BBC News also have a story about The hoard of gold jewellery found in Fishpool, Nottinghamshire and what was discovered at https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47582242.
3. Archaeology Magazine provides some clues about the finding of the hoard of gold jewelry and its possible origin at https://archaeology.org/authors/james-mathers/8063-hoard-of-goldsofferingsfromthepastatfishpoolnottinghamshire/.
Activities:
1. Create your own artwork representing the design elements that were found on the jewelery in the hoard, such as “gadrooning” and “granulation” techniques used in metalworking during the Anglo Saxon period.
2. Research other significant finds from the Anglo Saxon period and make a map detailing their location, date and importance to understanding this period in British history more clearly.
3, Visit Fishpool or one of foother locations mentioned where treasures may have been buried by early inhabitants and create a scrapbook of your visit with pictures and descriptions as you go around to historical sites either related to or reminiscent of this find..
Conclusion
This discovery changes our intuition of hoardings in Nottinghamshire because it provides definitive evidence of an extensive hiding practice in the area, one that dates back hundreds of years. This find was made by a metal detector enthusiast who happened upon a collection of gold jewelry dating back to the medieval and post-medieval periods. The trove included coins and several pieces of jewelry, all suggesting that there were individuals or families with enough disposable wealth to set aside wealth for later retrieval. These findings suggest that people have been using hoarding as a way to save and protect their valuable possessions for centuries in this part of England. It is evident that this practice was not limited to major centers such as London but rather extended throughout smaller cities and townships like Fishpool.
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