 The Silverdale Viking Hoard, which has been valued at £100,000, is to go on permanent display in Lancashire. The Hoard, which is made up of more than 200 pieces of silver and jewellery, was found two years ago in a field by a metal detecting enthusiast (see Newsletter 151). It has been put on display at Lancaster City Museum until 21st December.
However, from 15th February, it will go on permanent display at the Museum of Lancashire in Preston. Lancashire County Council secured donations from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and the Victoria and Albert Purchase Grant Fund to buy the hoard. The proceeds from the sale will be divided between the metal detector who found it and the landowner.
Dr Gareth Williams from the British Museum said that it's a very important find - the third largest Viking hoard found in England. It is a mixture of items that are familiar from other hoards, meaning that it fits very clearly into the picture we have of northern England in the Viking period.
The hoard consists of 27 coins, 10 complete arm-rings, two finger-rings, 14 ingots, six bossed brooch fragments, a fine wire braid and 141 fragments of chopped-up arm-rings and ingots, known as hacksilver.
The coins were a mixture of Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Viking, Frankish and Islamic types, and included coins of Alfred the Great (871-99) and a previously unknown Viking ruler of northern England. Dot Boughton, finds liaison officer for Lancashire, said that such discoveries were extremely rare in this area and is very significant for our understanding of the Viking presence in the North West.
 
GM Archaeology Day
This annual event is organised by the GM Archaeological Federation and this year will be held on Saturday 30th November at The Old Fire Station on the Crescent at Salford University. The event costs £10 and, as usual, will have an array of speakers from both professional bodies and amateur societies from around the borough. It's a good opportunity to catch up on what has been happening in the Greater Manchester districts. If you are interested in attending contact me at our next meeting for details.
CBA NW Autumn Conference
To be held at the Village Club in Waddington near Clitheroe on Saturday 9th November. This year's theme will be 'The Archaeology of Vernacular Buildings' and will include talks ranging from Medieval Cruck Buildings to Protective Marks and Folk Magic, one entitled 'A Leap in the Park' about Deer Parks in the Forest of Bowland. The cost is £15 (£13 for members) and will conclude with a tour of the Village and Waddington Hall in the afternoon. More details will be available at our next meeting.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 6th November - in the Standish Suite at the Brocket Arms (7.30pm as usual). Norman Redhead from the GMAAS has agreed (at short notice) to give us an update on the Roman Archaeology of Greater Manchester. It is 5 years ago since Norman came last to tell us about the archaeology of Roman Manchester. Since then there has been a number of significant discoveries including the Roman Altar found in excavations on Great Jackson Street in Manchester. Norman will also be able to tell us about the section of Roman road recently uncovered in Eccles. This is the Manchester to Wigan road and the new section was discovered not far from the section we helped to uncover in Ellesmere Park in 2005 (see Newsletter 85). As always, Norman is sure to present a very interesting talk - hope to see you there, BA.
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