Penrith Hoard, Viking silver collection at British Museum, England
The Penrith Hoard is a collection of silver jewelry and artifacts found in multiple discoveries between 1785 and 1989 at Flusco Pike on Newbiggin Moor. It contains brooch fibulae, coins, ingots, and other metal objects from the Viking and medieval period.
The first recorded discovery happened in 1785 when a boy found a large thistle brooch in an area known as the Silver Field. Subsequent findings over the next 200 years suggest the site had been accumulating precious objects for centuries.
The collection shows how Celtic brooch designs blended with Viking styles, reflecting the merging of different metalworking traditions in medieval Britain. Visitors can observe this cultural fusion through the varied decorative patterns and construction methods of the pieces.
The complete collection is displayed in dedicated exhibits at the British Museum where visitors can examine the brooches, coins, ingots, and jewelry pieces in detail. It helps to spend time looking at individual objects since many pieces feature intricate decoration and craftsmanship.
Some of the brooch fibulae bear runic inscriptions and feature specialized thistle designs that reveal surprising connections between Viking settlers and local populations. These details suggest cultural exchange was more intense than scholars previously believed.
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