A detectorist has discovered a rare golden pin from the scabbard of an Anglo-Saxon warrior's sword

A gold ornament from the sword of an Anglo-Saxon warrior was discovered in Norfolk during a mass detector operation. Experts have identified it as a pin or 'lock' or 'lock' on the belt of the sword scabbard. It was dated to the late 6th to early 7th century. It is one of the extremely rare artefacts of this period, most of which were discovered by detectorists.

The 13mm diameter object was discovered last September using a metal detector near King's Lynn at an event organised by Digging History UK. It is made of gold, decorated with red stones separated by thin strips of gold plate using the cloisonné technique. It was probably part of the belt that connected the sword scabbard to the warrior's belt. According to Norfolk finds liaison officer Dr. Helen Geak, it is one of fewer than ten similar finds in the whole of the UK and only the fifth recorded in the British Museum's PAS database.

"Swords used to be detachable from their belts and this decorative feature probably served to hold the connection tight. I used a similar feature on the Sutton Hoo replica," said Paul Mortimer, a retired teacher and expert on replica weapons. "It probably held the sword scabbard to the warrior's belt with some form of very thin cloth or leather," he added.

The gold pin could have been mounted on white organic material such as bone, ivory or antler, but that has not survived. According to Mortimer, swords used to have one or two of these decorative elements. He suggests that, in addition to their practical function, these objects may have also paid homage to the one-eyed god Odin. This is the subject of his scholarly work with Professor Neil Price.

Dr. Geak said there is little evidence of how they were used, which is why Mr Mortimer's research is useful. "They are never identical - even the two found on the Sutton Hoo sword are slightly different from each other," she said. "Objects of this kind are always unique," she added, noting that similar finds are extremely rare and are usually discovered by detectorists.

Norwich Castle Museum & Gallery is now trying to acquire this rare artefact for its collections.

Roman Nemec

Sources: academia.edu, bbc.com

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Sheath pin about 13 mm in diameter and inlaid with red stones separated by strips of gold plate

A replica of the sword was part of the Sutton Hoo exhibition

Sutton Hoo replica from Paul Mortimer's workshop