The object was quite ugly when it was found in Western Scotland in 2014. It had been hidden for nearly a thousand years.
A rare treasure is now available – an amazing Roman rock crystal vase wrapped in delicate gold thread, made by the best medieval artisans in the early to mid 8th century.
It is part of Galloway Hoard. This collection contains the largest number of rare and unusual Viking-age artifacts ever found in Britain.
It was buried around AD900 and contained about 100 artifacts from Ireland, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, and even Asia.
Derek McLennan (a retired businessman) discovered it while out on his metal detector in Kirkcudbrightshire. It is located in southwest Scotland.
The finest medieval artisans wrapped this jar of Roman rock crystal in gold thread.
The small jar was found as part of the Galloway Hoard in 2014 and acquired three years later by the National Museums Scotland
Its crystal jar base has swirling, gold ornaments that display wealth. Derek McLennan was an elderly businessman who found the hoard on Kirkcudbrightshire’s church-owned ground.
The jar was initially unknown to experts because of its value. It was hidden in a plastic pouch, which was obscuring its true worth.
It was soon apparent that the jar had a much higher value than initially thought. Before the restoration, this is what you see.
This protective pouch was so hardened, that the object stood out against silver-gilt vessels and pins in gold bird shapes.
The significance of the contents is evident in the fact that the original pouch was made from silk-lined leather.
It is believed that the jar was approximately 5cm high and contained perfume, or some other valuable potion, that could have been used to anoint kings, or in religious ceremonies.
Martin Goldberg (NMS’s Principal Curator of Early Medieval & Viking Collections) discovered it to be exceptional due to the fact that the rock crystal carving was actually Roman, and possibly 600 years old when it was made into a golden-wrapped container.
The hope is that trace elements from the past can reveal its magic potion. It was made with lobes that look like leaves. It was drilled through and fitted with a spout on the top.
Former keeper of Britain and Prehistory at the British Museum Dr Leslie Webster said that rock crystal was an unusual material.
It is a rare material that has been highly valued in antiquity for its transparency, translucency and purity. It was, in my opinion, quite special at the time.
“And as you can see, the gold nearly enshrines the object. It’s a kind of relic.
It’s an example of a high-status showcasing item, like one you would expect to find in a monastic monastery. The object is amazing.
Experts were stunned to see a Latin inscription that stated “Bishop Hyguald was made”, written in gold letters at the base of a jar.
This was a signal that some hoard material might have been from a church within the Anglo-Saxon kingdom Northumbria. It included Dumfries, Galloway and extended to Edinburgh and Sheffield.
Alfred the Great, who was at the dawn of the 10th-century, defeated the Danes, and laid the foundations of medieval England, Alba and the kingdom which would later become medieval Scotland.
It was during this time that monasteries were robbed of ecclesiastical wealth. The hoard might have been hidden by Vikings or anyone else fearing another raid.
Even silk, which was imported thousands of kilometers from Asia at the time, was considered a very precious material.
Although the Church Chronicles of that period do not exist, Dr Goldberg described the joy at finding a name for someone.
He stated that “So much of history is anonymous, particularly when we look at the very beginnings.”
Galloway Hoard Viking-age Treasure: Ninety-seven Artifacts from the Hoard is a traveling exhibition that includes 97 of these artifacts.
The exhibit is on display at Kirkcudbright Galleries from July 10 through July 10. It will then transfer to Aberdeen Art Gallery between July 30 and October 23.
While the final stages of work are ongoing on this jar, an updated film and digital model will go up starting Monday, 20 December.
The Galloway Hoard, which was found in 2014, contains arm rings, silver bracelets and brooches, a gold ring, an enamelled Christian cross and a bird-shaped gold pin
An original pin in gold with a bird shape, which has been restored and beautifully presented by National Museums Scotland
The Viking age Galloway Hoard contains four rings made of an annular, silver ribbon bracelet, and other treasures.
The hoard included a Carolingian vessel, which contained some of the treasure buried beneath it. Before burial, someone had covered the vessel with fabric. The scan also suggests that it contained organic matter or leather before being kept inside.
An elongated gold pendant from the Viking age Galloway Hoard, which was found by an amateur metal detectorist, Derek McLennan, in Dumfries and Galloway in 2014
Pictures revealed incredible detail about an Anglo-Saxon cross, which was buried as part the Galloway Hoard over a thousand Years ago
In Late Anglo-Saxon style, the silver cross is decorated using gold-leaf (black niello) and sandstone. The symbols for the four New Testament evangelists, St Matthew, Mark, Luke, Luke (Cow), and John (Eagle), are found in each arm of the cross.
The silver cross was previously covered in dirt for a thousand years. Scholars now have the opportunity to see this intricately decorated detail before its public debut.
Restored to its original glory, a disc brooch. Only a few years ago, National Museums Scotland had been given six months to raise £2million for the stash or risk losing it to private buyers
Anglo-Saxon Trewhiddle-style ornament on hinged mounts The collection is now open to the public thanks to donations from trusts, the Scottish government and others.
After and before conservation. National Museums Scotland states that the Galloway Hoard takes us back to an important moment in history, the creation of political entities such as Scotland and England.
Research into the Galloway Hoard uncovered the name of one of the famous treasure’s original owners. Examination of Anglo-Saxon runic inscriptions on the Hoard’s silver arm-rings revealed the name ‘Ecgbeorht’ or, in its more modern form, Egbert
The hoard includes artifacts, ingots, and gold. National Museums Scotland described this hoard as unique in that it gathered so many objects into one discovery
You can find these types of armlets in England, Scotland, and Wales. However they are rare in Scotland. David Mundell, Scottish Secretary said previously: “The unique Galloway Hoard has unquestionable historical and cultural value. It preserves an important archaeological finding and can guarantee its enjoyment by future generations.
You can find glass beads in a wide range of colors and designs. National Museums Scotland has partnered with University of Glasgow for a 3-year project called “Unwrapping The Galloway Hoard”. This will allow us to study the items in greater detail.