Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday 14 July 2015

Interpreting the Staffordshire Hoard


BBC News has a report on the analysis and conservation of the major hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold objects found at Burntwood on Staffordshire six years ago. The report confirms the importance of the discovery and the rich material culture of the warrior elite of seventh and eighth century Mercia, as well as the skill of the craftsmen who made their accoutrements. The illustrated report can be seen at Staffordshire Hoard reveals its secrets.

A previous report from last May about this work of piecing together these precious fragments of metalwork can be seen at Staffordshire Hoard: Sword and helmet reconstructed


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