Bedale Hoard, Medieval treasure collection in North Yorkshire, England
The Bedale Hoard is a collection of 48 silver and gold items from Viking times, including necklaces, arm-bands, a sword pommel, and 29 silver ingots. The objects show the trade connections and metalwork skills of this period.
Metal detector hobbyists found the hoard in 2012, making it available for research and public access. The discovery was secured for museum preservation through community funding efforts.
The collection shows a triangular iron sword pommel decorated with gold foil plaques displaying animal patterns in late Anglo-Saxon Trewhiddle style. Such craftsmanship was typical for wealthy people of that era.
The Yorkshire Museum displays the hoard with multimedia resources explaining its importance for understanding Viking-age trade. Visitors can see the items up close and learn more about their origins.
Four twisted silver cables form a neck collar with hammer-welded flat terminals, a design found only in West Viking cultures. This technique shows specialized metalworking knowledge of the era.
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