• Metal detecting holidays in England with the World's most successful metal detecting club.

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    Saxon/Viking History and artifact finds

     

    Saxon harness fittings now have their own page

    Saxon harrness fittings

    Saxon coin are now on a new page

    Saxon coins

    Saxon Bronze ornamental plate

     

    The Angle, Saxon, and Jute tribes who invaded Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries are known as the Anglo-Saxons. They left their homelands in northern Germany, Denmark and northern Holland and rowed across the North Sea in wooden boats.

    The Anglo-Saxons took control of most of Britain, although they never conquered Scotland, Wales and Cornwall. They divided the country into kingdoms, each with its own royal family. The stronger kingdoms often took control of the weaker kingdoms.

    By around AD 600 the five main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, Kent and Anglia.

    Early Anglo-Saxons wrote using letters called runes. They believed runes had magical powers.

     

    Anglo Saxon England (597 - 687)
    The coming of St. Augustine, triumph of Rome-oriented Christianity, Saxon control of island, rise of Mercia, Offa's Dyke.

    Anglo Saxon England (688 - 801)
    Rise of Wessex, King Ine establishes his law, Venerable Bede, Viking invasions.
    Anglo Saxon England (802 - 898)
    Triumph of Egbert, development of Wessex dynasty, Viking wars, Alfred the Great, St. Swithun, Peace of Wedmore, the Danelaw.

    Anglo Saxon England (899 - 977)
    Athelstan, St. Dunstan, growth of monasteries, more Viking wars, Battle of Brunanburh
    Anglo Saxon England (978 - 1066)
    Aethelred the Unready, Danegeld, Danes gain English crown, Edward the Confessor, rise of the Godwins, Westminster Abbey, Harold and William at Hastings.

    Mercian Rule

    Wulfhere 658-675
    Aethelred I 675-704
    Coenred 704-709
    Coelred 709-716
    Coelwald 716
    Aethelbald 716-757
    Beornred 757
    Offa 757-796 - see coin find below
    Egfrith 796
    Coenwulf 796-821 - see coin find below
    Cenelm (St.) 821
    Ceolwulf I 821-823
    Beornwulf 823-825
    Ludecan 825-827
    Wiglaf 827-828

    Under Wessex Rule 828-830

    Mercian Rule

    Wiglaf (again) 830-840
    Wistan (St.) 840
    Beorhtwulf 840-852
    Burghred 852-874

    Sub-Kings under Norse Rule

    Ceolwulf II 874-879

    Mercian Rule

    Aethelred II 879-884

    c. 561 Coins are minted again in England by Bishop Liudard

     

    The minting of coins in Britain had been abandoned after about 435 as a result of the Anglo-Saxon invasions. Bishop Liudard came over from France with the Merovingian Princess Bertha who married Prince Aethelbart who later, in 590, becomes King of Kent.

     
    c. 604-616 Bishop Mellitus issues gold coins from a mint in London
    These are used more for ornament than as currency.
    620-625 Sutton Hoo ceremonial Saxon burial ship

     

    Among the various treasures on board, are 37 Merovingian gold coins, but no English coins.
    c. 630 Saxons first start to produce gold coins in significant numbers

     

    As a result of the gradual rebuilding of commercial and cultural contacts with France and Italy Anglo-Merovingian types of coinage begin to circulate in south-east England.
    c. 630-c. 650 Crondall hoard of coins

     

    A hoard of 101 gold coins, most of which were minted in England, is buried at Crondall in Hampshire. The precise date is not certain.
    c. 675 Silver starts to displace gold in Saxon coinage

     

    Initially silver is used with gold as an alloy but early in the 8th century silver and base metals are the only ones used.
    752 Pepin the Short of France starts minting the Denier
    This new silver coin serves as a model for the English penny.
    757-796 Reign of Offa, King of Mercia the most powerful Saxon Kingdom
    During Offa's reign the minting of coins in England reaches new heights, both in terms of quality and quantity.
    c. 765 King Heaberth of Kent produces the first English pennies

     

    After the conquest of Kent by Offa, King of Mercia, production of the silver penny increases enormously and it replaces the older, more crudely designed sceat as the main English coin, except in Northumbria.
    789 Vikings raid Portland

     

    For the next 2-3 centuries England is subjected to repeated Viking attacks.

     

    Saxon (c.550-650AD) dagger pommel

    What can you say about a find like this, just beautifully tooled solid gold and probably owned by a very important Saxon chief. Brought by Colchester museum under the Treasure Act.

    Cleaned up Saxon rope necklace end - single rivet fixing

    Beast with large bottom jaw, large nose, recessed eyes with his head resting on his paw left - rear shows curled up spiralled tail.

    Rope necklace is still embedded in end

     

     

    Monster find - Early medieval gold ring - reported as treasure to museum

    Interesting hand punched lettering which has a barred A with additional top bar like on short cross coins of Class7 and an unbarred A also on the ring.

    "DEBAL GUD GUDANI +" which is Gothic, meaning "God of Gods"

    G is classic Saxon design

     

    4.22g, 4.49mm H x 22.59mm W

    9th-10thC Viking gold finger ring - aquired by museum

    2.05g, 10.33mm W

     

    Huge Saxon/Viking medallion

    11.20g, 27.95mm

    Stunning 11thC late Viking buckle - two biting beasts gripping the cross bar of the buckle

    Monster find - circa 8thC Anglo Saxon mount

    Black enamel with silver inlay

    40.28mm high

    Stunning enamelled Saxon mount

    Saxon gold 'Flat type' pin head back- reported as treasure to museum

    0.94g, 10.35mm

    Ancient gold sheet - reported as potential treasure to museum

    5.23g, 14mm L

    C6thC Saxon gilded disc brooch

    Anglo-Saxon 'Class Ai' Button Brooch

    What a stunning find - soaking to remove the soil - each raised section is 4mm deep

    Not an obvious fixing for a brooch, more like a mount. Nothing so far in my reference books, at a guess Early medieval in date

    36.6mm high, 7.16mm thick, 16.17g

    Initial ID from the museum is early medieval also.

    Large C8thC Saxon mount

     

    61.54mm L x 35.8mm W, 54.89g

    Stunning early medieval dagger quillion - finger guard is decorated with a runic inscription

    I checked all the runic styles and it matches Norwegian the best - one for the museum

    Norwegian Futhark

    Saxon

     

     
    5th-6th century AD Saxon gilded saucer brooch - running spiral design East Anglian type- donated to Colchester museum

    Thor's hammer pendant - silvered base metal 2.45g - 22.59mm L

    Museums feedback 'The pendant is Viking period, so 9th-11th century. It represents Thor’s hammer which was called Mjollnir. I would suggest that it is Scandinavian rather than a copy, as it is securely placed within Viking mythology.'

    Viking Age 1000AD. This particular Thor's Hammer pendant was found in Mandemark on the island of Møn and is displayed in the National Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark.


    Saxon solid gold hanging pendant ? - 2.65g, 11.95mm H x 10.68mm dia x 11.68mm W

    Currently with the British Museum being evaluated
    8thC Saxon pin head- 4.05g, 9.47mm dia, 19.05mm L
    8thC Saxon bronze brooch 3.80g, 25.46mm L 15.24mm W

    Saxon wrist band with punched circle design - 63.87mm W x 4.92mm T

    Huge C 9thC Viking 'Ladder of life' strapend - theses are know for being unusually large

    70.23mm L x 28.15mm W, 43.24g

     

    9thC Viking engraved silver strap end 5.82g, 44.44mm L x 11.91mm W. found by Cal Shawn

    Decoration matches the bowl on the left which is part of a known Viking silver hoard

     

    C10thC Anglo Saxon strap end 18.48g, 34.41mmL x 18.33mmW x6.53mm H

    Only one of it's type found in Britain - donated to Colchester museum by NovaScotia Andy

    'It is probably an insular copy of a Carolingian style, or it could even be the product of a workshop located on the fringes of the Carolingian continent, maybe somewhere like Domburg on the coast of Frisia. 10th - 11th century in date'.

    5thC bronze decorated dagger guard or quillion 42.87mmL ,10.85mm H

    Saxon gilded and decorated hanger
    9thC hanger with face design(b) found by Essex Dave
    Roman coin used as a Saxon pendant
    4thC Roman bronze used by an 8thC Saxon as a pendant
      8thC Saxon key found by Cal Shawn
    Saxon period decorated mount
    Saxon 8thC pin head
    9thC Bronze silvered Saxon strap end fragment 9.54g, 27.89mm L

     

     
    circa 10thC Saxon bronze key - decorated
    Saxon equal ended brooch fragment
    Saxon equal ended brooch fragment
    Viking stirup terminal
    Anglo Saxon period buckle with central pivoted pin
    C10thC Saxon bronze key 10.41g, 40.88mm Lx19.58mm W x 6.30mm T

    C 8th/9thC decorated Saxon strap end fragment - 3 rivet fixings 1.53g, 23.38mm L x 9.97mm W
    Saxon period item - decorated with iron shaft running through it - possible small knife handle - one for the museum
    11.04g, 26.80mm L x 14.28mm dia
    C 10thC Saxon key
    Saxon pin head - ridge on shaft
    C10C Saxon key handle
    Saxon key - pendant type
    		 C 10thC Saxon clothing fastener - single rivet fixing
    Crude Saxon hooked fastener - 2 rivet fixings
    c10thC Saxon brooch
    C10thC Saxon trefoil brooch
    C10thC Saxon brooch

    Anglo Saxon disc brooch of the Middle period C9thC - some silvering remains

    Hattatt Page 379

    Open mouthed beast zoomorphic type - red eyes
    Viking style zoomorphic dagger chape 54.08mm L, 29.85g - red and green enamel remains

     

    Saxon hanging heavily gilded pendant ??

    39.97mm L

    Very unusual zoomophic Saxon mount
    Saxon perforated brooch
    Saxon hooked clothing fastener - single rivet fixing
    C10th C Gilded Saxon hooked mount C8thC Saxon bow brooch

    Staggeringly rare find - c8thC Saxon solid silver hooked fastener used on their leg bindings

    Reported as treasure to museum

    C4th to 8thC Decorated and gilded helmet cheek piece - could be Roman or Saxon - checking ref books

    75.02mm L

     
    Saxon pin Saxon brooch
    th century AD. Hooked tags were used to fasten a variety of openings on Anglo-Saxon costume, including leg-bindings, purses and cuffs. - circule decoration

    C8thC Saxon cloak hook- circule design
    Incredibly rare 6thC Saxon cruciform brooch - virtually non existent on the continent
    c8thC circle decorated Saxon belt slide

    c8thC Saxon gilded disc brooch fragment

    C8thC Saxon mount with circle design Anglo Saxon buckle

    Stunning decorated circa 8thC Saxon strap end

    Stunning zoomorphic decorated circa 8thC Saxon strap end

     
    C 8thC Saxon buckle  
    Very unusual early medieval zoomorphic style buckle with integral plate

    Huge C10thC gilded Saxon plate

    Early medieval copper animal headed buckle

     

    Very interesting gilded copper mount with woman prone facing left.

    Not sure of date yet as it has the material construction for typical gilded Anglo Saxon but the features of Roman design

    Early medieval gilded mount

    Early medieval gilded mount

    c10thC Saxon gilded disc brooch

    c10thC Saxon hook fastener