Fågel, fisk eller häst? En samhällsanalys utifrån ornamentiken i The Staffordshire hoard
(2019) ARKK04 20182Archaeology
- Abstract
- The Staffordshire hoard was found on 5 July 2009 outside Lichfield, close to Hammerwich. It is one of the biggest hoards that has been found in England. It consists of more than 3000 pieces and has been dated to the Anglo-Saxon period. This bachelor’s thesis in Archaeology examines some of the items in the Staffordshire hoard: two sword pommels, two pyramid- shaped sword fittings, two crosses and a helmet. The thesis places the artefacts in a cultural context and draws preliminary conclusions about what society was like in Staffordshire/Mercia during the 6th and 7th century A.D. based on the combination and appearance of the artefacts. Around the time of the burial of the treasure in Staffordshire, Britain was slowly converting to... (More)
- The Staffordshire hoard was found on 5 July 2009 outside Lichfield, close to Hammerwich. It is one of the biggest hoards that has been found in England. It consists of more than 3000 pieces and has been dated to the Anglo-Saxon period. This bachelor’s thesis in Archaeology examines some of the items in the Staffordshire hoard: two sword pommels, two pyramid- shaped sword fittings, two crosses and a helmet. The thesis places the artefacts in a cultural context and draws preliminary conclusions about what society was like in Staffordshire/Mercia during the 6th and 7th century A.D. based on the combination and appearance of the artefacts. Around the time of the burial of the treasure in Staffordshire, Britain was slowly converting to Christianity. This can be seen in the ornamentation of the artefacts, which shows traces of both Christian and Pagan tradition. One of the most common Pagan motifs on the artefacts, such as sword pommels, is wild animals. This is probably because it was believed that Odin could turn into different animals and since he was the god of war it was believed that this could protect the person who used the sword in war. Warriors are also a common motif and warriors were highly respected in society.
Wild animals in the ornamentation on the artefacts demonstrates how these animals were seen as important and respected in a way that changed with the conversion to Christianity. One of the most frequent wild animals in the ornamentation is the snake, which can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the cultural background of the viewer – in Pagan culture it was regarded as a symbol for Odin, as a protection, whereas in Christian symbolism it was associated with the Devil, and hence evil in general. In the Staffordshire hoard the snake is represented on objects, such as the helmet and the cross. On the helmet, the intended symbolic meaning of the snake seems to be for protection, whereas on the cross, the intended meaning is more problematic, and open to interpretation, depending on the interpreter.
Many of the objects from the Staffordshire hoard are either produced outside Mercia and imported, or show influence from other cultures. Despite the continual conflicts and wars of the time – which many of the artefacts relate to or are made for – trade and cultural exchange continued throughout Britain and Europe. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8986866
- author
- Hildeman Sjölin, Birgitte LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- ARKK04 20182
- year
- 2019
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Staffordshire hoard, Anglo-Saxon, Mercia, pommel, helmet, iron age artefacts, iron age ornamentation, animal ornamentation, warrior society, snake symbolism
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 8986866
- date added to LUP
- 2021-10-15 16:29:19
- date last changed
- 2021-10-15 16:29:19
@misc{8986866,
abstract = {{The Staffordshire hoard was found on 5 July 2009 outside Lichfield, close to Hammerwich. It is one of the biggest hoards that has been found in England. It consists of more than 3000 pieces and has been dated to the Anglo-Saxon period. This bachelor’s thesis in Archaeology examines some of the items in the Staffordshire hoard: two sword pommels, two pyramid- shaped sword fittings, two crosses and a helmet. The thesis places the artefacts in a cultural context and draws preliminary conclusions about what society was like in Staffordshire/Mercia during the 6th and 7th century A.D. based on the combination and appearance of the artefacts. Around the time of the burial of the treasure in Staffordshire, Britain was slowly converting to Christianity. This can be seen in the ornamentation of the artefacts, which shows traces of both Christian and Pagan tradition. One of the most common Pagan motifs on the artefacts, such as sword pommels, is wild animals. This is probably because it was believed that Odin could turn into different animals and since he was the god of war it was believed that this could protect the person who used the sword in war. Warriors are also a common motif and warriors were highly respected in society.
Wild animals in the ornamentation on the artefacts demonstrates how these animals were seen as important and respected in a way that changed with the conversion to Christianity. One of the most frequent wild animals in the ornamentation is the snake, which can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the cultural background of the viewer – in Pagan culture it was regarded as a symbol for Odin, as a protection, whereas in Christian symbolism it was associated with the Devil, and hence evil in general. In the Staffordshire hoard the snake is represented on objects, such as the helmet and the cross. On the helmet, the intended symbolic meaning of the snake seems to be for protection, whereas on the cross, the intended meaning is more problematic, and open to interpretation, depending on the interpreter.
Many of the objects from the Staffordshire hoard are either produced outside Mercia and imported, or show influence from other cultures. Despite the continual conflicts and wars of the time – which many of the artefacts relate to or are made for – trade and cultural exchange continued throughout Britain and Europe.}},
author = {{Hildeman Sjölin, Birgitte}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Fågel, fisk eller häst? En samhällsanalys utifrån ornamentiken i The Staffordshire hoard}},
year = {{2019}},
}