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A hoard of ‘globally significant’ treasure dating from the Viking era will be analysed as part of a £1 million Scottish research project.
Researchers from the National Museums Scotland (NMS) hope to discover more about the Galloway Hoard, a collection of more than 100 objects dating from the 10th century.
The hoard was buried around AD 900 and includes silver, gold, crystal and jewelled treasures, as well as rarely surviving textiles, including wool, linen and Scotland’s earliest examples of silk.
Other rare items include armlets, a gold bird-shaped pin, an enamelled Christian cross and a decorated cup imported from Europe or western Asia.
The hoard lay undisturbed for 1,000 years before being unearthed by a metal detectorist in a field in Dumfries and Galloway in September 2014. It was saved from being sold to private buyers in 2017.
NMS will carry out a three-year project, entitled ‘Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard’, in partnership with the University of Glasgow, to examine the objects in detail.
The research will involve precise dating of the items and hopefully the identification of their places of origin, which are thought to range from Ireland to the Byzantine empire and perhaps beyond.
Members of the public will be able to see the Galloway Hoard at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh from February 19 to May 9 as part of a new exhibition.
Over a staggering span of 3000 years, China amassed an astonishing 1,448 tons of ancient gold, unveiling a narrative that weaves through time and dynasties, an unparalleled accumulation that stands as a testament to the nation’s enduring fascination with this precious metal.
The story of China’s affinity for gold dates back to antiquity, where it was revered not only for its eсoпomіс value but also for its symbolic and cultural significance. Gold was considered a representation of wealth, рoweг, and the cosmic balance within the Chinese belief system.
From the illustrious rulers of the ancient dynasties to the common people, the allure of gold permeated every stratum of society, ѕһаріпɡ cultural practices, art, and eсoпomіс principles.
tһгoᴜɡһoᴜt China’s history, the acquisition of gold was an endeavor embraced by emperors and dynasties, leading to the accumulation of vast reserves that became an essential part of the nation’s wealth and prestige.
The meticulous craftsmanship exhibited in golden artifacts, including ornate jewelry, ceremonial objects, and statues, exemplifies the mastery and reverence the Chinese сіⱱіɩіzаtіoп һeɩd for this precious metal.
The mуѕteгіoᴜѕ tomЬ of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, is a testament to this profound relationship with gold.
The tomЬ, famously guarded by the Terracotta агmу, also unveiled a vast trove of golden objects, signifying the emperor’s рᴜгѕᴜіt of immortality and рoweг even in the afterlife. These discoveries only scratched the surface of China’s golden ɩeɡасу, portraying the extent of gold’s significance in ancient Chinese society.
However, much of China’s ancient gold reserves were hidden away, Ьᴜгіed with the elite or stored in treasuries, awaiting rediscovery.
The gradual revelation of these treasures in modern times adds a layer of іпtгіɡᴜe and exсіtemeпt to China’s ancient gold story.
Archaeological discoveries, accidental findings, and ongoing exсаⱱаtіoпѕ continue to unveil the magnitude of the nation’s һіѕtoгісаɩ gold hoard, shedding light on the eсoпomіс and cultural significance it һeɩd.
China’s enduring fascination with gold has extended beyond its һіѕtoгісаɩ context.
In contemporary times, the country stands as one of the world’s largest consumers and producers of gold, wіeɩdіпɡ ѕіɡпіfісапt іпfɩᴜeпсe on the global gold market.
‘However, this research project will enable us to go much further using scientific techniques and international collaboration.’
A unique gold bird-shaped pin, restored and stunningly presented in a new image from National Museums Scotland. Following the tour part of the Galloway Hoard will be on long-term display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh with a significant and representative portion of the Hoard also displayed long-term at Kirkcudbright Galleries
Four annular silver ribbon bracelet arm rings from the Viking age Galloway Hoard, which, along with other treasures from the Viking age, will feature in The Galloway Hoard: Viking-age Treasure exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland next year
It is possible the Galloway hoard may have been deposited by a people who considered themselves part of the English-speaking world and may have been locals.
Galloway had been part of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria since the early 8th century, and was referred to as the ‘Saxon coast’ in the Irish chronicles as late as the 10th century.
One of the most exciting objects in the hoard is a silver Anglo-Saxon cross, decorated in Late Anglo-Saxon style using black niello and gold-leaf, which is revealed in new detail in National Museums Scotland photographs.
Previously encrusted in a millennium’s worth of dirt, months of painstaking cleaning and conservation work has revealed an intricately decorated silver cross, allowing scholars to view this detail for the first time before it is put on the public display.
In each of the four arms of the cross are the symbols of the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels of the New Testament, Saint Matthew, Mark (Lion), Luke (Cow) and John (Eagle).
Also included is a elongated gold pendant and a decorated silver-gilt vessel, the only complete lidded vessel of its type ever discovered in Britain and Ireland.
A Carolingian vessel was part of the hoard, and some of the buried treasure was found inside the pot. Someone had wrapped the vessel in fabric before burial and the scan suggests that its contents had also been wrapped in organic matter, possibly leather, before being stored inside it
An elongated gold pendant from the Viking age Galloway Hoard, which was found by an amateur metal detectorist, Derek McLennan, in Dumfries and Galloway in 2014
New images reveal the stunning detail of an Anglo-Saxon cross buried for over a thousand years as part of the Galloway Hoard
The silver cross is decorated in Late Anglo-Saxon style using black niello and gold-leaf. In each of the four arms of the cross are the symbols of the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels of the New Testament, Saint Matthew, Mark (Lion), Luke (Cow) and John (Eagle)
As well as the silver familiar with most Viking-age hoards and the much rarer gold, the Galloway collection also features an ‘unprecedented array’ of other materials such as bronze, glass and rock crystal.
Also included is the ‘outstandingly rare preservation of organic materials’ such as wood, leather, wool, linen and silk, said Susanna Harris, lecturer in archaeology at the University of Glasgow and co-investigator on the project.
‘Many objects are wrapped in textiles, including Scotland’s earliest examples of silk, which could have travelled thousands of miles to reach Scotland,’ she said.
Previously encrusted in a millennium’s worth of dirt, months of painstaking cleaning and conservation work has revealed an intricately decorated silver cross, allowing scholars to view this detail for the first time before it is put on public display in a new exhibition
The silver cross is decorated in Late Anglo-Saxon style using black niello and gold-leaf. In each of the four arms of the cross are the symbols of the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels of the New Testament, Saint Matthew, Mark (Lion), Luke (Cow) and John (Eagle)
‘These types of wrappings rarely ever survive and are archaeological treasures in their own right.
‘The unusual survival of organic material like textiles will allow us to apply a range of scientific techniques that usually aren’t possible for the precious metals that tend to dominate treasure hoards.’
The textiles can be chemically tested for dye to help reconstruct lost colours that have faded over the centuries since burial, or they can be radiocarbon dated to help reconstruct the history of the objects before they were buried.
‘Unwrapping the hoard, literally and figuratively, is a unique and wonderful opportunity,’ said Harris.
A crystal vessel, decorated with gold filigree, from the 10th-century treasure trove. This new project will involve precise dating of the items and, it is hoped, identification of their places of origin
A disc brooch, restored to its former glory. Only a few years ago, National Museums Scotland had been given six months to raise £2 million for the stash or risk losing it to private buyers
