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The Staffordshire Hoard gives up more secrets

Thousands of metal fragments from the Staffordshire Hoard have been pieced together to uncover two more examples of 7th Century warrior splendour - as a £120,000 public appeal is launched today to fund more research.

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Around 1,500 silver pieces - more than a third of the total haul - were fitted together like a jigsaw to make up Anglo Saxon helmet, believed to have been owned by a high-ranking warrior.

A unique form of sword pommel was also uncovered. More than 70 pommels - part of the sword grip - were found in the hoard but this one, reassembled from 26 fragments, has been described as 'exceptional'.

The discoveries have been made public as news of a £400,000 grant by Historic England to fund more research into the collection, the largest hoard of precious metal from the 7th-century period ever found, comes to light.

A section of the reconstructed helmet band, depicting a frieze of warriors

But the owners say an extra £120,000 is still needed to unlock the hoard's secrets. They are appealing directly to the public to help in financing the work.

The Staffordshire Hoard was found in 2009 scattered just below the surface of a field at Hammerwich, on the Burntwood- Brownhills border.

Part of the helmetband, depicting a frieze of warriors

Archaeologists have been working on the collection ever since, cleaning and identifying what they can, with parts of the find going on exhibition around the country.

A section of the reconstructed helmet band, depicting a frieze of warriors

The latest research has focused on physically joining the fragments together, like a giant jigsaw puzzle, revealing the artefacts in their original form. The work will culminate in an online catalogue, to be launched in 2017.

The following year will see a major publication exploring the Hoard in more depth, explaining the objects' meanings and how they relate to each other.

The owners of the Hoard, Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent City Councils, and Birmingham Museums Trust and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery who care for it on their behalf, have also contributed towards the research.

The research is being carried out by Barbican Research Associates and builds on previous work by teams around the country, also funded by Historic England.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England chief executive, said: "Since its discovery in 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard and the stories behind it have captured the public imagination.

A section of the reconstructed helmet band, depicting a frieze of warriors

"The research which Historic England has funded has started to uncover the secrets of this Anglo-Saxon treasure. As technology and research methods develop we are able to discover more and more, and share the results, but more money needs to be raised to capitalise fully on this rich potential."

Chris Fern, project archaeologist, said: "The gold and silver war-gear was probably made in workshops controlled by some of England's earliest kings, to reward warriors that served those rulers, when multiple kingdoms fought for supremacy.

"The newly recognised pommel is truly exciting. It combines multiple different styles of ornament and suggests the coming together of Anglo-Saxon and British or Irish high cultures."

The helmet and sword pommel have gone on display at Birmingham Museum. The public can donate at www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/donate

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