Working on the Staffordshire Hoard

We all know the story of the unearthing of the Staffordshire Hoard in 2009. A man with a metal detector makes an astounding discovery in a farmer’s field just outside of Lichfield in Staffordshire. With a collection of over 3,500 Anglo-Saxon items of gold and silver, a research and conservation programme began in order to better understand the hoard. An internship programme was developed to allow conservation students and conservators in professional practice to participate in the conservation of the Staffordshire Hoard and to share their knowledge with the Conservation Team.  Sarah Klopf studying conservation of archaeological objects and handcraft completed a four week internship in March this year and has shared her experience on the Staffordshire Hoard website, which can be viewed here.

 “My work in the conservation studio was very varied. I cleaned and documented two objects from the Hoard and helped with their analysis with a portable XRF-machine. The first object was a garnet decorated, H-shaped ornament………During cleaning (under the microscope) you look at the object quite a lot and it made me really appreciate the amazing craftsmanship. How on earth were they able to produce tiny foils, garnets and wires and put them together in such an amazing way without a microscope?”