Mon. Dec 23rd, 2024

Mysterious Anglo-Saxon object ‘made by someone with a real eye for loveliness’ is discovered in Norfolk – and experts have no idea what it is<!-- wp:html --><p><a href="https://whatsnew2day.com/">WhatsNew2Day - Latest News And Breaking Headlines</a></p> <div> <p class="mol-para-with-font">A mysterious Anglo-Saxon object “made by someone with a real eye for beauty” has been discovered in Norfolk – but experts have no idea what it is. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The ornate silver item, measuring just 0.7 inches (19.4 mm) in diameter, was found by a metal detector near Langham, a small town about 30 miles from Norwich. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">It depicts an animal, probably a horse, looking over its shoulder, accompanied by elaborate lines reminiscent of the famous religious Book of Kells. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Experts say the find dates back to the late 8th or early 9th century, but is “completely different” from any other object discovered by detectors in the region. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Exactly what it was used for is open to debate, although it has been speculated that it could be a piece of jewellery, a fragment of clothing or a bottle cap.</p> <div class="artSplitter mol-img-group"> <div class="mol-img"> <div class="image-wrap"> </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">The ornate object measures just 19.4 mm (0.7 in) in diameter and has an animal depicted on top, probably a horse. </p> </div> <div class="artSplitter mol-img-group"> <div class="mol-img"> <div class="image-wrap"> </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">The object was discovered by a metal detector near Langham, a small town about 30 miles from Norwich.</p> </div> <div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS sciencetech"> <h3 class="mol-factbox-title">The Anglo-Saxons</h3> <div class="ins cleared mol-factbox-body"> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The Anglo-Saxons were a people who inhabited Britain from the 5th century AD </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">They were made up of Germanic tribes who emigrated from continental Europe, as well as indigenous British people who adopted their cultural practices.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The Anglo-Saxons were fierce warriors and tribes often fought each other over territory.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">They ruled Britain for 500 years until 1066, when they were conquered by the Normans. </p> </div> </div> <p class="mol-para-with-font">“It is so small and yet it was created with the same care as a Bible or a piece of jewelry,” said historian Helen Geake. <a target="_blank" class="class" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67750556" rel="noopener">BBC</a>. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘It has a rear-facing animal, possibly a horse, which fills the space nicely and I love the colour. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">“Many times we do not see the colors of the past because the clothes do not survive and the polishes disappear from the environments.” </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The object has a flat, circular lined top with straight sides, similar to a bottle cap but much more ornate, and appears wrinkled, but is otherwise in good condition. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Whoever did it would have mixed mercury from Spain with gold dust to highlight the horse on top, according to the expert. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">It could have been part of a larger object that broke off and has since been lost, or has yet to be discovered.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Whatever it was, its creation required a lot of specialist work, said Ms Geake, who appeared on the TV show Time Team.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The craftsman would have had “many talents and would have done many different things,” he added. </p> <div class="artSplitter mol-img-group"> <div class="mol-img"> <div class="image-wrap"> </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">Experts say it dates back to the late 8th or early 9th century and is “completely different” from any of the other similar mysterious objects discovered by detectorists in the region. Here are shots of the object from multiple angles. </p> </div> <div class="artSplitter mol-img-group"> <div class="mol-img"> <div class="image-wrap"> </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">The object has a flat, circular top with straight sides, similar to a bottle cap but much more ornate.</p> </div> <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘It is a mysterious object and you cannot say at all what kind of thing it is. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">“But it was made by someone with a real eye for beauty.” </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">According to Mrs Geake, the spiral pattern on the sides is similar to the markings on the Book of Kells, the illuminated religious manuscript. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The Book of Kells, one of the most famous medieval manuscripts in the world, was previously believed to have been created by a single group of monks around 800 AD. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Spirals are also recognizable in the Lindisfarne Gospel, another illuminated manuscript produced around 715-720 AD. C. and now in the British Library in London. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">This suggests that the find has some kind of religious significance and may have been worn, although it doesn’t look like what you would conventionally see around someone’s neck. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Historians know that Anglo-Saxon men and women wore jewelry, but gold and silver necklaces were rare and worn by high-ranking women. </p> <div class="artSplitter mol-img-group"> <div class="mol-img"> <div class="image-wrap"> </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">The Anglo-Saxons were fierce warriors and tribes often fought each other over territory. They ruled Britain from 500 years until 1066, when they were conquered by the Normans at the Battle of Hastings (pictured here).</p> </div> <p class="mol-para-with-font">MailOnline has contacted British Museum and Norfolk Museum services for comment. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The public took to Reddit to discuss what the object could be, some more seriously than others. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Someone said that it “looks like a signet ring or a seal for sealing things with wax,” although this practice dates back much later, around the 16th century. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Another speculated that it was a “little metal cup” that was stomped on, while another joked: “More evidence that humans have always liked bling.” </p> <div class=" mol-factbox sciencetech art-ins"> <h3 class="mol-factbox-title">WHAT IS THE BOOK OF KELLS?</h3> <div class="ins cleared mol-factbox-body"> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The Book of Kells manuscript, which eclipsed all other artistic and cultural achievements of the early Middle Ages, was created around 800 AD by Irish monks to glorify the life of Christ.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">It was made from calfskin sheets decorated with elaborate illustrations and Latin calligraphy.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">It contains the Latin text of the four gospels and all but two pages are decorated with intricate designs and symbolic images. </p> <div class="artSplitter mol-img-group"> <div class="mol-img"> <div class="image-wrap"> </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">The Book of Kells manuscript, which eclipsed all other artistic and cultural achievements of the early Middle Ages, was created around 800 AD by Irish monks to glorify the life of Christ.</p> </div> <p class="mol-para-with-font">It is believed that it would have taken a team of illustrators up to 30 years to complete it. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Three artists appear to have made the main decorated pages.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">A monastery founded around 561 AD. C. by Saint Colum Cille on Iona, an island off Mull in western Scotland, became the main house of a large monastic confederation. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">In 806 AD, following Viking raids on the island that left 68 members of the community dead, the Columban monks took refuge in a new monastery in Kells, County Meath.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">An outbreak of disease, possibly smallpox, that affected the monastery in the early 9th century may also have contributed to the move.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The manuscript remained there for almost 700 years, except for one incident in which it was stolen and found weeks later without its jeweled gilt cover and with some pages missing.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">He arrived at Trinity College, Dublin in 1661 AD. C. and is still exhibited there today. </p> <div class="artSplitter mol-img-group"> <div class="mol-img"> <div class="image-wrap"> </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">The Book of Kells was first begun in a monastery on Iona, an island off the west of Scotland. In 806 AD, following a Viking raid, the monks moved to Kells in County Meath, Ireland. The manuscript arrived at Trinity College, Dublin in 1661 AD, where it remains.</p> </div> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The first mention of this work of art is an entry in the Annals of Ulster from 1007 AD. C., which records that “the great book of the Columcille Gospel, the chief relic of the Western world, was stolen during the night from the great stone Church of Cenannus (Kells).”</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">During the last century, an increasing number of scholars wanted access to the manuscript.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">In 1986, Trinity College allowed Facsimile Verlag of Lucerne, Switzerland, to photograph the complete manuscript and create a limited edition of 1,480 numbered copies.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Most of them are found in libraries around the world.</p> </div> </div> </div> <p><a href="https://whatsnew2day.com/mysterious-anglo-saxon-object-made-by-someone-with-a-real-eye-for-loveliness-is-discovered-in-norfolk-and-experts-have-no-idea-what-it-is/">Mysterious Anglo-Saxon object ‘made by someone with a real eye for loveliness’ is discovered in Norfolk – and experts have no idea what it is</a></p><!-- /wp:html -->

WhatsNew2Day – Latest News And Breaking Headlines

A mysterious Anglo-Saxon object “made by someone with a real eye for beauty” has been discovered in Norfolk – but experts have no idea what it is.

The ornate silver item, measuring just 0.7 inches (19.4 mm) in diameter, was found by a metal detector near Langham, a small town about 30 miles from Norwich.

It depicts an animal, probably a horse, looking over its shoulder, accompanied by elaborate lines reminiscent of the famous religious Book of Kells.

Experts say the find dates back to the late 8th or early 9th century, but is “completely different” from any other object discovered by detectors in the region.

Exactly what it was used for is open to debate, although it has been speculated that it could be a piece of jewellery, a fragment of clothing or a bottle cap.

The ornate object measures just 19.4 mm (0.7 in) in diameter and has an animal depicted on top, probably a horse.

The object was discovered by a metal detector near Langham, a small town about 30 miles from Norwich.

The Anglo-Saxons

The Anglo-Saxons were a people who inhabited Britain from the 5th century AD

They were made up of Germanic tribes who emigrated from continental Europe, as well as indigenous British people who adopted their cultural practices.

The Anglo-Saxons were fierce warriors and tribes often fought each other over territory.

They ruled Britain for 500 years until 1066, when they were conquered by the Normans.

“It is so small and yet it was created with the same care as a Bible or a piece of jewelry,” said historian Helen Geake. BBC.

‘It has a rear-facing animal, possibly a horse, which fills the space nicely and I love the colour.

“Many times we do not see the colors of the past because the clothes do not survive and the polishes disappear from the environments.”

The object has a flat, circular lined top with straight sides, similar to a bottle cap but much more ornate, and appears wrinkled, but is otherwise in good condition.

Whoever did it would have mixed mercury from Spain with gold dust to highlight the horse on top, according to the expert.

It could have been part of a larger object that broke off and has since been lost, or has yet to be discovered.

Whatever it was, its creation required a lot of specialist work, said Ms Geake, who appeared on the TV show Time Team.

The craftsman would have had “many talents and would have done many different things,” he added.

Experts say it dates back to the late 8th or early 9th century and is “completely different” from any of the other similar mysterious objects discovered by detectorists in the region. Here are shots of the object from multiple angles.

The object has a flat, circular top with straight sides, similar to a bottle cap but much more ornate.

‘It is a mysterious object and you cannot say at all what kind of thing it is.

“But it was made by someone with a real eye for beauty.”

According to Mrs Geake, the spiral pattern on the sides is similar to the markings on the Book of Kells, the illuminated religious manuscript.

The Book of Kells, one of the most famous medieval manuscripts in the world, was previously believed to have been created by a single group of monks around 800 AD.

Spirals are also recognizable in the Lindisfarne Gospel, another illuminated manuscript produced around 715-720 AD. C. and now in the British Library in London.

This suggests that the find has some kind of religious significance and may have been worn, although it doesn’t look like what you would conventionally see around someone’s neck.

Historians know that Anglo-Saxon men and women wore jewelry, but gold and silver necklaces were rare and worn by high-ranking women.

The Anglo-Saxons were fierce warriors and tribes often fought each other over territory. They ruled Britain from 500 years until 1066, when they were conquered by the Normans at the Battle of Hastings (pictured here).

MailOnline has contacted British Museum and Norfolk Museum services for comment.

The public took to Reddit to discuss what the object could be, some more seriously than others.

Someone said that it “looks like a signet ring or a seal for sealing things with wax,” although this practice dates back much later, around the 16th century.

Another speculated that it was a “little metal cup” that was stomped on, while another joked: “More evidence that humans have always liked bling.”

WHAT IS THE BOOK OF KELLS?

The Book of Kells manuscript, which eclipsed all other artistic and cultural achievements of the early Middle Ages, was created around 800 AD by Irish monks to glorify the life of Christ.

It was made from calfskin sheets decorated with elaborate illustrations and Latin calligraphy.

It contains the Latin text of the four gospels and all but two pages are decorated with intricate designs and symbolic images.

The Book of Kells manuscript, which eclipsed all other artistic and cultural achievements of the early Middle Ages, was created around 800 AD by Irish monks to glorify the life of Christ.

It is believed that it would have taken a team of illustrators up to 30 years to complete it.

Three artists appear to have made the main decorated pages.

A monastery founded around 561 AD. C. by Saint Colum Cille on Iona, an island off Mull in western Scotland, became the main house of a large monastic confederation.

In 806 AD, following Viking raids on the island that left 68 members of the community dead, the Columban monks took refuge in a new monastery in Kells, County Meath.

An outbreak of disease, possibly smallpox, that affected the monastery in the early 9th century may also have contributed to the move.

The manuscript remained there for almost 700 years, except for one incident in which it was stolen and found weeks later without its jeweled gilt cover and with some pages missing.

He arrived at Trinity College, Dublin in 1661 AD. C. and is still exhibited there today.

The Book of Kells was first begun in a monastery on Iona, an island off the west of Scotland. In 806 AD, following a Viking raid, the monks moved to Kells in County Meath, Ireland. The manuscript arrived at Trinity College, Dublin in 1661 AD, where it remains.

The first mention of this work of art is an entry in the Annals of Ulster from 1007 AD. C., which records that “the great book of the Columcille Gospel, the chief relic of the Western world, was stolen during the night from the great stone Church of Cenannus (Kells).”

During the last century, an increasing number of scholars wanted access to the manuscript.

In 1986, Trinity College allowed Facsimile Verlag of Lucerne, Switzerland, to photograph the complete manuscript and create a limited edition of 1,480 numbered copies.

Most of them are found in libraries around the world.

Mysterious Anglo-Saxon object ‘made by someone with a real eye for loveliness’ is discovered in Norfolk – and experts have no idea what it is

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