A Historian Dr David Starkey has launched a fundraising drive to keep the largest ever hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold in the region where it was discovered. A news by Associated Press stated that the campaign launched at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, aims to raise £3.3 million to acquire the Staffordshire Hoard, which was found by a metal detectorist last summer. If the campaign is successful, the Hoard would be jointly acquired by both the Birmingham museum and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent. The campaign, being led by The Art Fund charity, aims to raise the required £3.3m by April 17.
Photo by Wikipedia: Some of the Staffordshire HoardLaunching the appeal, Dr Starkey said it was vital that the Hoard - comprising around 1,500 items made of gold, silver and precious stones - remained as one collection. The Staffordshire Hoard is a name given to the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold yet found. Discovered in a field in the village of Hammerwich near Lichfield in Staffordshire, England on 5 July 2009, it consists of more than 1,500 items that are nearly all martial in character. The artefact's have tentatively been dated to the 7th or 8th centuries, placing the origin of the items in the time of the kingdom of Mercia.
Photo by AP News: Dr David StarkeyThe historian said: "Archaeological finds don't come any bigger than this. The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest and most valuable collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever - it's the most important find for over half a century, and, in terms of the history of Middle England, the most important ever.
"But break it up or move it and its meaning is lost. It must stay here, together and intact, to be studied and displayed here in the West Midlands, the foundation of whose history it will now become."
The Art Fund's new Director, Dr Stephen Deuchar, kick-started the public appeal by announcing an initial Art Fund grant of £300,000 and by unveiling the official donation website www.artfund.org/hoard. Birmingham City Council, which runs Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, also announced that it is giving an initial £100,000 towards the campaign, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council will also donate £100,000, bringing the sum already raised already to £500,000.
Dr Deuchar said: "This is the most significant and beautiful treasure find from any era that has ever been unearthed in England. We are thrilled to be leading the public campaign and making an initial grant of £300,000 towards the £3.3million total.
"For years to come the treasure will be a source of awe and inspiration for all to experience. We, along with the rest of the nation, are very much looking forward to discovering its story."
This is a good move to make sure all the hoard doesn't get separated. Its already making a history by being the most largest Saxon hoard ever been found. Separating it means that the history can only be read in a book. I wish Department of Museum in Malaysia will be taking a same initiative whenever any historical artefact's found in this country. People can easily take national treasure without any action by the department? I read many news about old treasure found in Malaysia but their action are too late or they don't take any action at all.
Source: AP News, Wikipedia
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