Anglo-Saxon treasure hoard

[Frank_Lloyd_Knight]

One of the articles in this month's National Geographic magazine covers an Anglo-Saxon treasure hoard discovered in England. The photo gallery shows some really spectacular pieces from the stash.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/featurehub

(The same issue also has an article on Sami reindeer herders which would also likely be of interest to some here.)

[theboywarrior]

Oooooh....pretty.

[Throndor]

I saw this on NatGeo! It's so incredible. Evidently, another hobbyist or archaeologist had been in the same place only a few weeks before... I'd hate to be that guy. But yeah, it's Dark Age period, so it explains why it wasn't recorded, what I don't get is what it was, really. Some say it was a Pagan-Christian battle that the Pagans won because of the crumpled golden cross. The only parts that were in this stockpile were valued golden pommels, spearheads, etc., leading one to believe that it was loot. Very interesting!

[Left4bricks]

I have read this article too (as I am very interested by the 6th to 11th century perdiod in England) and it seems there are no absolute answers. The reasons could have been multiple : hiding a treasure because of enemies (Kingdom of Mercia was at war with Welshes), or showing power to them (the lord having enough wealth to bury a part of them). May be it's significant that there were lot of weaponry ustensils, but the two crosses are enigmatic.

[Medieval Guy]

As there was no treasure belonging to women, I think that this was a war party's stash. I can't imagion why they would've mutilated it, unless it was some sort of ritual.