The fascinating story behind the discovery of the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found will be told at the Guildhall in Bath later this month.
The renowned archaeologist Dr Kevin Leahy FSA MIfA, National Finds Advisor for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, will give an illustrated talk on Wednesday 13 June at 7.30pm about the significance of the huge haul found in 2009 near Lichfield, Staffordshire.
The talk “Unknown unknowns – Looking at the Staffordshire Anglo-Saxon Hoard” will reveal how the discovery came as a shock – with no-one having ever seen anything like it before.
Dr Leahy said: “Its contents, mainly war-gear and a few Christian objects displaying breath-taking craftsmanship and artistry, appear to have been carefully chosen to be buried on a hillock overlooking a Roman road.
“When was it buried and by whom? Why was it consigned to the earth? From where did the objects come? The hoard does not exist in a vacuum and other finds will help provide a context for it. We are involved in a long and exciting exploration of this magnificent treasure.”
Dr Leahy is a freelance archaeological finds specialist and Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of Leicester. As the Early Medieval Metalwork National Adviser for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, it was Dr Leahy who prepared the first catalogue of the finds from the Staffordshire Hoard. Before going into archaeology, he trained as a foundry engineer, which left him with a deep interest in metals and materials. He has excavated some important Anglo-Saxon sites and published a number of books on Anglo-Saxon archaeology including ‘Anglo-Saxon Crafts’ and ‘The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Lindsey’.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is delighted to welcome a nationally-renowned figure such as Dr Kevin Leahy to the Guildhall for this event which archaeologists and those interested in archaeology will find fascinating.”
The lecture is free but admission is by ticket only. Tickets may be booked by calling 01225 477773 or visiting http://staffordshirehoard-eac2.eventbrite.com/.
