Image Details

© Daniel Buxton Photography (www.danielbuxton.co.uk)

As the dirt was brushed away, the Staffordshire hoard revealed piece after piece of gold. Most were broken fragments, but the hoard also included many highly decorated sword fittings, some with inlaid garnet. A delicate button-like fitting measures only 0.5 inches in diameter and was probably used to hold the sword hilt in place.