The lure of treasure is universal

Cloud · 04-20-2010, 04:09 PM

the Staffordshire Hoard

Saw a show on this last night--very cool! I'm sure you UK people know about it, but it hadn't impinged on my consciousness yet (hard as that is to do). I can't remember if da Cella has talked about this (and could not find on search) so --

Largest treasure ever in the UK! close to 1400 pieces, most of the gold, from about the 7 century in the middle of England, found not even one year ago, in July 2009.

And this family was just farming on top of the mound for generations. Along comes a metal detectorist, and asks Farmer Fred if he can run his little machine over the field. Farm Fred says, it's a waste of time--6 people have already been on it, but you can try. And behold, the guy starts picking up gold pieces that have been plowed up. He and the farmer get to split the reward -- $5.5 million dollars.

And all the scientists wept with emotion when they saw it! The hoard is strange, too--no buildings or graves, no necklaces or jewelry--just a lot of sword pommels (with the blades removed), bits and pieces of gold armour and stuff, just buried. Quite a puzzle.

And the coolest thing? This middle kingdom had the dialect and style which J.R.R. Tolkien based Rohan on.

The WikiP entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffordshire_hoard

A Flickr set of pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/finds/s...7622378376316/

TheMercenary · 04-20-2010, 05:57 PM

...the treasure.

I have seen a US version. Very cool. Good on him. And good for the further study of early man in the UK.

I hope the dude got rich off his find. Lord knows we all need a break.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-21-2010, 12:18 AM

I read they suspect it belonged to a soldier, booty he'd gathered in his campaigns.

Cloud · 04-21-2010, 08:57 AM

or a court armourer because of some sort of tribute scheme. They just don't really know at this point, and may never know. Sure is fun to speculate tho!

Shawnee123 · 04-21-2010, 09:00 AM

Can you imagine finding something like that?

I'd want to roll around in it for a while, absorb a little history.

I'm going to borrow my brother's metal detector!

Spexxvet · 04-21-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I'd want to roll around in it for a while,

Smaug!

Shawnee123 · 04-21-2010, 09:12 AM

Smaug?

Spexxvet · 04-21-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Smaug?

Smaug

Shawnee123 · 04-21-2010, 09:23 AM

Ohhh...see, I'm all cool and didn't even know it.

ZenGum · 04-23-2010, 02:33 AM

Dragon-lady revealed at last!

04-20-2010, 04:09 PM	#1
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	The lure of treasure is universal the Staffordshire Hoard Saw a show on this last night--very cool! I'm sure you UK people know about it, but it hadn't impinged on my consciousness yet (hard as that is to do). I can't remember if da Cella has talked about this (and could not find on search) so -- Largest treasure ever in the UK! close to 1400 pieces, most of the gold, from about the 7 century in the middle of England, found not even one year ago, in July 2009. And this family was just farming on top of the mound for generations. Along comes a metal detectorist, and asks Farmer Fred if he can run his little machine over the field. Farm Fred says, it's a waste of time--6 people have already been on it, but you can try. And behold, the guy starts picking up gold pieces that have been plowed up. He and the farmer get to split the reward -- $5.5 million dollars. And all the scientists wept with emotion when they saw it! The hoard is strange, too--no buildings or graves, no necklaces or jewelry--just a lot of sword pommels (with the blades removed), bits and pieces of gold armour and stuff, just buried. Quite a puzzle. And the coolest thing? This middle kingdom had the dialect and style which J.R.R. Tolkien based Rohan on. The WikiP entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffordshire_hoard A Flickr set of pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/finds/s...7622378376316/ __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!" Last edited by Cloud; 04-20-2010 at 06:01 PM.

04-21-2010, 12:18 AM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I read they suspect it belonged to a soldier, booty he'd gathered in his campaigns. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-21-2010, 08:57 AM	#4
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	or a court armourer because of some sort of tribute scheme. They just don't really know at this point, and may never know. Sure is fun to speculate tho! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

04-21-2010, 09:00 AM	#5
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Can you imagine finding something like that? I'd want to roll around in it for a while, absorb a little history. I'm going to borrow my brother's metal detector! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

04-21-2010, 09:12 AM	#7
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Smaug? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

04-20-2010, 05:57 PM	#2
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	...the treasure. I have seen a US version. Very cool. Good on him. And good for the further study of early man in the UK. I hope the dude got rich off his find. Lord knows we all need a break.

04-21-2010, 09:23 AM	#9
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Ohhh...see, I'm all cool and didn't even know it. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

04-23-2010, 02:33 AM	#10
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Dragon-lady revealed at last! __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

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