Staffordshire County Council's Historic Environmental Team has revealed some of the county's most significant archaeological discoveries to mark this year's Festival of Archaeology, running from 18 July to 2 August.
Shane Kelleher, County Archaeologist, and Teresa Gilmore, Finds Liaison Officer, have selected key finds that illustrate Staffordshire's rich historical heritage.
Major finds on display
The Staffordshire Hoard, discovered near Lichfield in 2009, remains the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever found. The thousands of items include sword fittings, helmet fragments and other military objects. Parts of the hoard can be seen at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Tamworth Castle Museum.
The Leekfrith Torcs were found by two hobby metal detectorists in the Moorlands in 2016. This hoard of four gold torcs — neck or wrist rings — is over 2,000 years old and represents the earliest Iron Age gold objects ever discovered in Britain.
A more recent discovery is the Uttoxeter Stirrup, found in 2023. The copper alloy horse stirrup dates to around the time of the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Why small finds matter
Shane Kelleher said: "One of the reasons that I love archaeology is that often the smallest and seemingly inconsequential find, such as a piece of pottery or a small stone, can tell us so much about the lives of people who lived in Staffordshire thousands of years ago."
He added: "This is why our roles are so important. We ensure that finds on development sites, or by metal detectorists, are properly recorded and understood, and I am excited to share some of our favourite finds from the county during this year's Festival of Archaeology."
How to follow the discoveries
Daily posts detailing artefacts discovered in Staffordshire will be shared on Staffordshire County Council's Facebook page throughout the Festival of Archaeology.
