Sutton who?

[caddyman]

It’s rare that my interest in early English history is rekindled by a news website, in fact I’d go so far as to say it’s never happened before. But today we have the once in a century report of a discovery that may lead to hefty revisions to the history books akin to those that followed the discovery of the Sutton Hoo burial in 1939.

The largest ever Anglo-Saxon hoard has been found by a bloke with a metal detector in an undisclosed location in Staffordshire. The value of the 1,500 or so pieces of gold and silver found dwarfs the Sutton Hoo find and may possibly be valued in seven figures.

Archaeologists have described it as like finding the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels for the first time.

I hope that a revision to Sir Frank Stenton’s history comes out while I am still young enough to read it. Having worked for a couple of years at English Heritage in the mid 1980s, I rather doubt it…

Comments

[good1zrtaken.livejournal.com]

that is utterly fascinating!

[kt-peasant.livejournal.com]

Crumbs, chief! Thanks for linking.

[littleonionz.livejournal.com]

One of my sword group is a metal detectorist in staffordshire who has been finding 'stuff' on another of the group's farms mostly roman fibula though...I'll let you know if he turns up to practice in a Rolls.

[thomryng.livejournal.com]

Wow. Just... wow.

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

I think I've missed something, what's the relevance of Stenton's history?


Incidentally, if you're after a good A/S read, can I recommend my old tutor - James Graham Campbell

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Wow.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Sir Frank?

THE Authoritative history of Anglo-Saxon England?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Stenton

Rubbish entry, mind.

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, well since I'm a dirt digger by training (and medieval at that), I must admit a certain scepticism to a historian of that age. However, I should browse and see if I can dig up (ho ho) a copy.

Seriously though, check out James GC.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

It badly needs updating in the light of more recent discoveries, but I *think* it's still regarded as the single most authoritative volume.

I am more than willing to be corrected on that, mind.

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

Well I'm rather rusty on the old Angle-land, so I may have to swot up plenty first.

Still, as I said, I'll keep an eye out.

[kathbad]

I heard about it, but am unclear as to why it is causing the need for history re-writes...

[lucyas.livejournal.com]

Likewise, I have read reports that it means history rewrites, but not what rewrites and why. Does anyone have any idea of the specific item or items in the find that are prompting this, or is it just journalists wanting something dramatic to write? I realise this is a significant find, and I'm certainly interested in seeing pictures and descriptions of the items as well as learning what among them is so history-book changing.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I haven't boned up on the period for a few years, so I'm not entirely sure, but I think that the size and quality of the hoard suggests a degree of princely economic and political power in the area rather earlier than previously supposed.

[lucyas.livejournal.com]

Oh, that makes sense.