Ancient helmet cheek-piece found in Staffordshire field

Ninety-one pieces of gold and silver have been recovered from a Staffordshire field when it was ploughed recently.

The new items were found in the same field where over 3,900 pieces of gold, silver and some copper alloy objects were found in 2009.

The first discovery was made by a metal detectorist, who had permission to scan the land. Many of the items weigh less than a gram.

The collection does however, include a possible helmet cheek piece, a cross-shaped mount and an eagle-shaped mount.

After the first discovery, the Staffordshire Hoard was declared treasure and a huge fundraising campaign was launched to bring the treasure back to the West Midlands.

Over £900,000 was raised through public donations. Staffordshire County Council, Birmingham City Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Lichfield District Council and Tamworth Borough Council all made donations.

The Hoard is now owned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Birmingham City Council. Around one million people have seen the Hoard since it was declared treasure in 2009.

South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh has now ruled that 81 of the 91 latest finds in the field near Lichfield were treasure, and part of the Staffordshire Hoard.

Staffordshire County Council leader Philip Atkins said: “It is great news that more pieces of the Hoard have been discovered and the challenge now is to work with our partners to raise the money to make sure the collection stays together in the West Midlands.”