Detectorists praised after medieval treasure found
On Thursday, May 6, this detecting find was declared treasure. It was found on 15 February 2020 at Cheswardine, near Market Drayton in Shropshire, and has been called “The Cheswardine Mount”. The find was reported to the PAS as WMID-3B47A8.
Artefact
Photo: Birmingham Museums Trust CC By SA2.0
The type of artefact is unclear. It resembles pyramid mounts that are thought to have been used on sword scabbards in the sixth and seventh century. They would have been either purely decorative or used to secure the sword in the scabbard. However, this find can be dated to ninth to tenth century by its Trewhiddle style design.
Trewhiddle
Trewhiddle Hoard items from the British Museum
The Trewhiddle Hoard has given its name to the Trehiddle style of decoration found in Anglo-Saxon art of the 9th century.
The hoard was found by tin miners in 1774 in Trewhiddle, Cornwall. It contained Anglo-Saxon coins, a chalice and other gold and silver objects. Many of the artefacts were decorated with stylised animals, now known as the Trewhiddle style.
Response to find
Peter Reavill, Shropshire based FLO, said that the find showed the “true value” of metal detecting. He added that the discovery and reporting of the find will enable a better understanding of the late Saxon period in the county.
Shropshire museum is hoping to acquire the find. Sarah Skelton, curator of Shropshire Museums said that putting it on public display will ensure that local people can see the exquisite workmanship and help bring to life what people were doing in Shropshire.