Connecting organic and inorganic materials in the Viking-Age Galloway Hoard

Goldberg, Martin

Connecting organic and inorganic materials in the Viking-Age Galloway Hoard

Resource type

Abstract

Creator (person)

Goldberg, Martin

Date published

August 30, 2023

Abstract

Research into hoards has often focused on metal objects and while the Galloway Hoard contains over 5kg of silver, and more gold objects than any extant hoard surviving from Viking-Age Britain and Ireland, it is the other materials that make it outstanding. Wood, leather, and textile (silk, linen and wool) wrapping and bundling were also preserved 419 within this hoard and beyond the precious metals a lidded vessel also contains glass, rock crystal, mineral elements and even two curated balls of dirt. The non-metallic elements of this assemblage tell us about the structure of this hoard and different ages of associated materials. The lidded vessel and some of its contents were curated for centuries before being deposited. On a macro-scale there are four clear groups and on a micro-scale there is a structure to the packing of the wrapped and lidded vessel and the bundles within it. The Galloway hoard bears similarities to many contemporary silver bullion hoards but the differences are also many and significant and bear comparison to other types of complex deposit from other time periods (burials, treasuries, relic collections etc). Within this one hoard we seem to have several motivations for hoarding, collecting and curating a variety of materials as well as evidence for how the parts came together as an assemblage.