The Staffordshire Hoard Private Guided Tour

Today we have an exclusive opportunity to view and hear about the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever found, comprising of over 4000 items.

We will visit the exhibition gallery 'Staffordshire Hoard: Treasure of Mercia' with our own guide.

Archaeologists believe the Hoard was buried during the 7th Century (600-699AD), at a time when the region was part of the Kingdom of Mercia.

The Hoard was jointly acquired by the Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Birmingham City Council after it was discovered by a metal detectorist in 2009, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. The discovery is still transforming our knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon era.

In November 2019, the 10 year conservation project and research project came to a close with the publication of a major research monograph and the full catalogue published online via the Archaeology Data Service.

Most gold objects found from the Anglo-Saxon era are pieces of jewellery such as brooches or pendants. The Staffordshire Hoard is unique in that it is almost entirely made up of war gear, especially sword fittings. Over 1,000 pieces are from a single, ornate helmet. It is the grandest example to have been found from the period and would have been fit for a king. An 18-month research project produced two reproductions of the helmet. We will get to see one on display at the museum.

No one can be sure why the Staffordshire Hoard was buried. Many of the pieces are bent or warped. It looks like they were forcefully pulled to strip them away from the objects they were attached to. One theory is that the Hoard is a collection of trophies from one or more battles, buried for safe-keeping or as an offering to pagan gods.

Alternatively, stripping away fittings from swords, shields and helmets may have been a ritual way of stripping away the identity of the previous owner. The war gear was re-purposed and redecorated by the victor, and the old gold fittings buried as a gift to the gods.

After our tour we will have an opportunity to visit other parts of the museum and visit the cafe and museum shop.