Special Collections
Saxons and Vikings
Description: Books and images for project and them based learning about Saxons and Vikings
- Table View
- List View
Staffordshire hoard sword pommel cap (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows images of a pommel cap. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a front view of a pommel cap in the bottom and centre of the page, a cap end profile in the top left of the page and a sword hilt in an image border to the right of the page. The decoration on the front view of the pommel cap shows a mass of intricate œworm shaped lines which interweave back and forth. The cap is slightly damaged on the bottom edge. The diagram on the right shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. An arrow points to the pommel cap's position at the end of the sword and hilt. The cap is in a heavier line than the rest of the hilt. Down from the cap is the sword handle. The side view on the left shows the shape of the cap seen edge-on, which is seen from the direction of the arrow to the left. It is at a smaller scale to the front view. Eighty six pommel caps were found in the hoard. Most were gold and a few were silver. They had many different types of decoration.
Staffordshire hoard sword pommel cap (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows images of a pommel cap. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a front view of a pommel cap in the bottom and centre of the page, a cap end profile in the top left of the page and a sword hilt in an image border to the right of the page. The decoration on the front view of the pommel cap shows a mass of intricate œworm shaped lines which interweave back and forth. The cap is slightly damaged on the bottom edge. The diagram on the right shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. An arrow points to the pommel cap's position at the end of the sword and hilt. The cap is in a heavier line than the rest of the hilt. Down from the cap is the sword handle. The side view on the left shows the shape of the cap seen edge-on, which is seen from the direction of the arrow to the left. It is at a smaller scale to the front view. Eighty six pommel caps were found in the hoard. Most were gold and a few were silver. They had many different types of decoration.
Staffordshire hoard sword hilt plate (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a hilt plate, detail of decoration, and a hilt. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face view of a hilt plate in the top of the page, a detail in an image border at the bottom of the page and a sword hilt in an image border in the bottom right of the page. The face view shows the plate to be slightly bent and some of the decoration is not shown as it is hidden by soil which has not yet been removed. At each end to the left and right is dashed line circle. These are the clasps to semi-precious stones which are missing. In the centre of the image is the hole where the blade would pass when the sword was being assembled. Around the hole there are intertwined animals. The detail shows the animals more clearly. On the left is the hind quarters of an animal. Its back leg is being grasped by the next animal which has one eye showing on its head. Its body curves down and then up again. Down from the head is the front foot with three toes. The leg goes to the right and then up. The back leg comes down from the hip and then goes to the left. The leg appears to go behind the body with the foot up from the back of the animal in the top centre of the image. Its back leg is being grasped by the next animal to the right. This animal also has one eye showing on its head. Down from the head is its front foot with three toes. The leg goes to the right. The rest of the animal is not shown. To the right an image shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. Arrows points to the position of the hilt plates in the sword handle. The plates are shown edge-on by a bolder line.
Staffordshire hoard sword hilt plate (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a hilt plate, detail of decoration, and a hilt. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face view of a hilt plate in the top of the page, a detail in an image border at the bottom of the page and a sword hilt in an image border in the bottom right of the page. The face view shows the plate to be slightly bent and some of the decoration is not shown as it is hidden by soil which has not yet been removed. At each end to the left and right is dashed line circle. These are the clasps to semi-precious stones which are missing. In the centre of the image is the hole where the blade would pass when the sword was being assembled. Around the hole there are intertwined animals. The detail shows the animals more clearly. On the left is the hind quarters of an animal. Its back leg is being grasped by the next animal which has one eye showing on its head. Its body curves down and then up again. Down from the head is the front foot with three toes. The leg goes to the right and then up. The back leg comes down from the hip and then goes to the left. The leg appears to go behind the body with the foot up from the back of the animal in the top centre of the image. Its back leg is being grasped by the next animal to the right. This animal also has one eye showing on its head. Down from the head is its front foot with three toes. The leg goes to the right. The rest of the animal is not shown. To the right an image shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. Arrows points to the position of the hilt plates in the sword handle. The plates are shown edge-on by a bolder line.
Staffordshire hoard sword hilt plate (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a hilt plate, detail of decoration, and a hilt. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face view of a hilt plate in the top of the page, a detail in an image border at the bottom of the page and a sword hilt in an image border in the bottom right of the page. The face view shows the plate to be slightly bent and some of the decoration is not shown as it is hidden by soil which has not yet been removed. At each end to the left and right is dashed line circle. These are the clasps to semi-precious stones which are missing. In the centre of the image is the hole where the blade would pass when the sword was being assembled. Around the hole there are intertwined animals. The detail shows the animals more clearly. On the left is the hind quarters of an animal. Its back leg is being grasped by the next animal which has one eye showing on its head. Its body curves down and then up again. Down from the head is the front foot with three toes. The leg goes to the right and then up. The back leg comes down from the hip and then goes to the left. The leg appears to go behind the body with the foot up from the back of the animal in the top centre of the image. Its back leg is being grasped by the next animal to the right. This animal also has one eye showing on its head. Down from the head is its front foot with three toes. The leg goes to the right. The rest of the animal is not shown. To the right an image shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. Arrows points to the position of the hilt plates in the sword handle. The plates are shown edge-on by a bolder line.
Staffordshire hoard sword hilt collar (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a hilt collar and a hilt. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of a hilt collar in the top of the page and a sword hilt in an image border in the bottom of the page. The side view of a hilt collar shows decorations of garnet set in a ring of gold. There are three bands of decorations going horizontally across the image. The top band is made of two lines of shapes which interlock. The shapes in the top line are all very similar. The shapes in second line are also very similar to each other. The second middle band is much wider and is formed by several convoluted broken lines which interweave. The third band is like first band but mirrored so that the first line of shapes in the top band becomes the bottom line in the bottom band. The diagram at the bottom of the page shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. An arrow points to the position of the collar in the sword handle. The collar is shown by a bolder line.
Staffordshire hoard sword hilt collar (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a hilt collar and a hilt. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of a hilt collar in the top of the page and a sword hilt in an image border in the bottom of the page. The side view of a hilt collar shows decorations of garnet set in a ring of gold. There are three bands of decorations going horizontally across the image. The top band is made of two lines of shapes which interlock. The shapes in the top line are all very similar. The shapes in second line are also very similar to each other. The second middle band is much wider and is formed by several convoluted broken lines which interweave. The third band is like first band but mirrored so that the first line of shapes in the top band becomes the bottom line in the bottom band. The diagram at the bottom of the page shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. An arrow points to the position of the collar in the sword handle. The collar is shown by a bolder line.
Staffordshire hoard sword hilt collar (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a hilt collar and a hilt. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of a hilt collar in the top of the page and a sword hilt in an image border in the bottom of the page. The side view of a hilt collar shows decorations of garnet set in a ring of gold. There are three bands of decorations going horizontally across the image. The top band is made of two lines of shapes which interlock. The shapes in the top line are all very similar. The shapes in second line are also very similar to each other. The second middle band is much wider and is formed by several convoluted broken lines which interweave. The third band is like first band but mirrored so that the first line of shapes in the top band becomes the bottom line in the bottom band. The diagram at the bottom of the page shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. An arrow points to the position of the collar in the sword handle. The collar is shown by a bolder line.
Staffordshire hoard seahorse (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a gold seahorse. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of the seahorse facing to the right in the centre left of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page in an image border. The seahorse is flat with extremely fine filigree decorations made from very thin gold wire. The seahorse's head is in the top centre of the page. An ear sticks up with an eye down from it. The snout goes down and right. The body curves left, down and right to a point. It then goes down and left again. It curves to the right ending in a damaged edge where some part appears missing. A small section to the bottom left could perhaps be a fin which has a hole in it. Five wires run down the body, one along the left edge, one along the right edge and three spaced down the middle dividing the body into four strips. The strips are decorated with tiny wire circular spirals. The detail shows the spiral patterns. The spirals are in linked pairs so that one spiral flows into the other half. Most of the spirals run in a clockwise direction but one of the central strips has anti-clockwise spirals. The seahorse is quite small, only 41 x 18.5 mm in size. Three of the spirals together are the size of a grain of rice!
Staffordshire hoard seahorse (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a gold seahorse. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of the seahorse facing to the right in the centre left of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page in an image border. The seahorse is flat with extremely fine filigree decorations made from very thin gold wire. The seahorse's head is in the top centre of the page. An ear sticks up with an eye down from it. The snout goes down and right. The body curves left, down and right to a point. It then goes down and left again. It curves to the right ending in a damaged edge where some part appears missing. A small section to the bottom left could perhaps be a fin which has a hole in it. Five wires run down the body, one along the left edge, one along the right edge and three spaced down the middle dividing the body into four strips. The strips are decorated with tiny wire circular spirals. The detail shows the spiral patterns. The spirals are in linked pairs so that one spiral flows into the other half. Most of the spirals run in a clockwise direction but one of the central strips has anti-clockwise spirals. The seahorse is quite small, only 41 x 18.5 mm in size. Three of the spirals together are the size of a grain of rice!
Staffordshire hoard seahorse (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a gold seahorse. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of the seahorse facing to the right in the centre left of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page in an image border. The seahorse is flat with extremely fine filigree decorations made from very thin gold wire. The seahorse's head is in the top centre of the page. An ear sticks up with an eye down from it. The snout goes down and right. The body curves left, down and right to a point. It then goes down and left again. It curves to the right ending in a damaged edge where some part appears missing. A small section to the bottom left could perhaps be a fin which has a hole in it. Five wires run down the body, one along the left edge, one along the right edge and three spaced down the middle dividing the body into four strips. The strips are decorated with tiny wire circular spirals. The detail shows the spiral patterns. The spirals are in linked pairs so that one spiral flows into the other half. Most of the spirals run in a clockwise direction but one of the central strips has anti-clockwise spirals. The seahorse is quite small, only 41 x 18.5 mm in size. Three of the spirals together are the size of a grain of rice!
Staffordshire hoard scabbard boss (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a scabbard boss. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face-up view of the boss in the centre of the page and a profile shape in the bottom of the page. The scabbard boss is round, domed and made from gold. It has four pieces of garnet inset in the centre. They are two pairs of shapes, the opposites are nearly identical. The angular shapes neatly interlock. In a ring around them are ten rounded pieces of garnet. They are alternately an oval and a heart shaped piece. Around the garnet shapes is ring with a circular line of small gold bumps. The boss is a decorative button on a scabbard (sheath). The boss is 41 x 18.5 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard scabbard boss (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a scabbard boss. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face-up view of the boss in the centre of the page and a profile shape in the bottom of the page. The scabbard boss is round, domed and made from gold. It has four pieces of garnet inset in the centre. They are two pairs of shapes, the opposites are nearly identical. The angular shapes neatly interlock. In a ring around them are ten rounded pieces of garnet. They are alternately an oval and a heart shaped piece. Around the garnet shapes is ring with a circular line of small gold bumps. The boss is a decorative button on a scabbard (sheath). The boss is 41 x 18.5 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard scabbard boss (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a scabbard boss. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face-up view of the boss in the centre of the page and a profile shape in the bottom of the page. The scabbard boss is round, domed and made from gold. It has four pieces of garnet inset in the centre. They are two pairs of shapes, the opposites are nearly identical. The angular shapes neatly interlock. In a ring around them are ten rounded pieces of garnet. They are alternately an oval and a heart shaped piece. Around the garnet shapes is ring with a circular line of small gold bumps. The boss is a decorative button on a scabbard (sheath). The boss is 41 x 18.5 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard cross (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a front view of the cross in the centre of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page. The centre of the cross is set with a large garnet stone. The four arms of the cross have decorated arms. The ones to the left, right and up the page have a garnet stone set at the end. The rounded end has two small decorative œears. The arm going down the page is longer and has an oval garnet set in the middle. Three arms at the top each have one decorative panel. The long arm at the bottom has two panels. This arm widens at the end but does not have a garnet set in it. The detail to the right shows one of the decorative panels. There are two wide paths which intertwine twice. Two other thinner lines intertwine with the wide paths and each other. There is a decorative shape at the end of each wide path and four smaller shapes in the middle of the panel. There is a small piece of detailing at the bottom end of the panel. This is a reconstruction of the cross which was found folded up with two of the smaller garnets missing. The large stone was also missing so it is not certain it was a garnet, it may have been a rock crystal. The cross is 114 x 71 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard cross (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a front view of the cross in the centre of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page. The centre of the cross is set with a large garnet stone. The four arms of the cross have decorated arms. The ones to the left, right and up the page have a garnet stone set at the end. The rounded end has two small decorative œears. The arm going down the page is longer and has an oval garnet set in the middle. Three arms at the top each have one decorative panel. The long arm at the bottom has two panels. This arm widens at the end but does not have a garnet set in it. The detail to the right shows one of the decorative panels. There are two wide paths which intertwine twice. Two other thinner lines intertwine with the wide paths and each other. There is a decorative shape at the end of each wide path and four smaller shapes in the middle of the panel. There is a small piece of detailing at the bottom end of the panel. This is a reconstruction of the cross which was found folded up with two of the smaller garnets missing. The large stone was also missing so it is not certain it was a garnet, it may have been a rock crystal. The cross is 114 x 71 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard cross (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a front view of the cross in the centre of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page. The centre of the cross is set with a large garnet stone. The four arms of the cross have decorated arms. The ones to the left, right and up the page have a garnet stone set at the end. The rounded end has two small decorative œears. The arm going down the page is longer and has an oval garnet set in the middle. Three arms at the top each have one decorative panel. The long arm at the bottom has two panels. This arm widens at the end but does not have a garnet set in it. The detail to the right shows one of the decorative panels. There are two wide paths which intertwine twice. Two other thinner lines intertwine with the wide paths and each other. There is a decorative shape at the end of each wide path and four smaller shapes in the middle of the panel. There is a small piece of detailing at the bottom end of the panel. This is a reconstruction of the cross which was found folded up with two of the smaller garnets missing. The large stone was also missing so it is not certain it was a garnet, it may have been a rock crystal. The cross is 114 x 71 mm in size.
Celtic stone cross (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of Celtic Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. In the top half of the page the short arms of the cross go left, right and up the page. As they leave the centre of the cross they are narrow. They widen to form square ends. Behind them is a ring of stone. Going down the page is the longer shaft of the cross. The cross is decorated with typical Celtic patterns. The patterns are interlaced lines or paths which alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross. On the shaft there are three Celtic knots. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape's path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross.
Celtic stone cross (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of Celtic Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. In the top half of the page the short arms of the cross go left, right and up the page. As they leave the centre of the cross they are narrow. They widen to form square ends. Behind them is a ring of stone. Going down the page is the longer shaft of the cross. The cross is decorated with typical Celtic patterns. The patterns are interlaced lines or paths which alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross. On the shaft there are three Celtic knots. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape's path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross.
Celtic stone cross (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of Celtic Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. In the top half of the page the short arms of the cross go left, right and up the page. As they leave the centre of the cross they are narrow. They widen to form square ends. Behind them is a ring of stone. Going down the page is the longer shaft of the cross. The cross is decorated with typical Celtic patterns. The patterns are interlaced lines or paths which alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross. On the shaft there are three Celtic knots. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape's path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross.
Celtic knots (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows three images of Celtic knots. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a knot in the top left and a knot in the top right of the page. There is a larger knot in the bottom half of the page. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front and behind the lines they cross. The knots at the top of the page are relatively simple. The knot at the bottom of the page is much more complex and uses a thinner line.
Celtic knots (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows three images of Celtic knots. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a knot in the top left and a knot in the top right of the page. There is a larger knot in the bottom half of the page. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front and behind the lines they cross. The knots at the top of the page are relatively simple. The knot at the bottom of the page is much more complex and uses a thinner line.
Celtic knots (large print)
by RnibThis page shows three images of Celtic knots. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a knot in the top left and a knot in the top right of the page. There is a larger knot in the bottom half of the page. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front and behind the lines they cross. The knots at the top of the page are relatively simple. The knot at the bottom of the page is much more complex and uses a thinner line.
Map of Saxon Britain (tactile)
by Adrian FarnsworthThis is a tactile map of Britain showing the area occupied by the Anglo Saxons during the early Middle Ages.
Map of Britain showing Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the Seventh Century (UEB Uncontracted)
byThis page shows a map of Britain on the left of the page, and a key to the abbreviations on the map in the top right of the page. A labelled north-pointing arrow is shown in the top left of the page. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the right way up. The map shows seven different areas the Anglo-Saxons occupied in the Seventh Century and also indicates areas occupied by other tribes.