'First of Its Kind' Early Medieval Large Silver and Copper Alloy Disc Brooch on a Farmland, Experts Unsure of Its Origin
In 2020, a metal detectorist during his voyage in a Somerset farmland unearthed what experts now believe to be a 'very rare' medieval brooch. Iain Sansome was exploring the grounds of Cheddar when he came across the large silver and copper alloy disc brooch, BBC reported. According to experts, the artifact was used in medieval times to fasten clothing and is the first of its kind to be uncovered in the Southwest.
The brooch featured interlaced animal and plant designs made from bright silver and black niello alloys, The Guardian reported. These alloys are usually formed by mixing sulfur, copper, silver, and lead. The whole design is set against a gilded back panel. The animal used as a subject in the brooch has been identified as a wyvern, a dragon-like creature with two legs, wings, and long tails. These animals have huge cultural significance, as they were later installed as a symbol of Wessex.
The item has been called 'exceptional' by experts because of its sheer size, BBC reported. According to Amal Khreisheh, the curator of archaeology at the South West Heritage the "quality of its decoration" is so esteemed that it must have been created by an extremely talented goldsmith.
Authorities took the brooch for restoration which unveiled further 'intricacies.' Experts located fine scratches on the back which according to them could have helped the artisan in mapping out the design.
"A tiny contemporary mend on the beaded border suggests the brooch was cherished by its owner and worn for an extended period of time before it was lost," Khreisheh added.
'A great Somerset treasure' has been acquired by the museum. The Early Medieval brooch is the first of its kind ever discovered in the South West and dates from 800-900 AD. Thanks to @V_and_A @artfund @ace_national museum friends https://t.co/KkYThnIDw9 pic.twitter.com/y6fTlObdqM
— Museum of Somerset (@SomersetMuseum) February 21, 2023
Analysis has confirmed that the brooch dates back to around 800 to 900 A.D. This implies that it was made during a time when the Saxon Wessex community was facing a multitude of issues in the region. Things were so dire that King Alfred the Great had to take refuge in Athelney on the Somerset Levels.
"In 878, Alfred the Great rallied his forces in Somerset and defeated the invading Danish army. Wessex was secure and the foundations had been laid for the creation of a unified English kingdom. The Cheddar brooch comes from a time that was a turning point in English history," Tom Mayberry, the chief executive of the South West Heritage Trust said.
The connection between the history of King Alfred and the location in which the brooch was discovered has made experts speculate about the artifact having a royal connection, but it is yet to be proved. In 2023, the brooch was acquired by the Museum of Somerset, Taunton, under the Treasure Act 1996.