Mercian Trail facts for kids
The Mercian Trail is a special group of museums and historical places in the West Midlands of England. These places are used to show amazing objects from the Staffordshire Hoard. The trail is put together by several local councils, including those from Lichfield District, Tamworth, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, and Birmingham.
The main places on the Mercian Trail are:
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (52°28′49″N 1°54′13″W / 52.4802°N 1.9036°W)
- Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (53°01′22″N 2°10′41″W / 53.0229°N 2.1781°W)
- Lichfield Cathedral (52°41′08″N 1°49′50″W / 52.6855°N 1.8305°W)
- Tamworth Castle (52°37′58″N 1°41′48″W / 52.6327°N 1.6968°W)
Most of the Staffordshire Hoard items will be shown at these four places. Some objects will also travel around the West Midlands in a special exhibition. This touring show started at the Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford. It connects with another display at the nearby Ancient High House Museum. This exhibition is called 'Out of the Dark Ages: Stafford's Anglo-Saxon Origins'. It looks at how the Anglo-Saxons arrived and how the Kingdom of Mercia grew. It also tells the story of the Saxon town founded in 913. This display includes coins and everyday items, which are different from the mostly military items in the Hoard.
Contents
Discovering the Staffordshire Hoard
The amazing Staffordshire Hoard was found in a field near Lichfield in July 2009. A metal detectorist discovered it in a place called Hammerwich. After the Hoard was found, experts declared it "treasure" in September 2009. This meant it was very important and belonged to the Crown.
The Hoard was valued at £3.285 million. This is a huge amount of money! A public appeal was started to raise the money. The goal was for Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery to buy the Hoard together. On March 23, 2010, it was announced that enough money had been raised. This meant the two museums could buy the Hoard and keep it in the West Midlands for everyone to see.
Why the Mercian Trail is Important
The Mercian Trail does more than just show off the Staffordshire Hoard. It also helps us learn about the history and archaeology of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. This ancient kingdom was centered in the area that is now Staffordshire.
The displays try to connect the Hoard items with other old objects found nearby. This helps people understand the items better and what they mean in history. The people who created the trail want to answer many interesting questions.
Exploring Anglo-Saxon Life
The Mercian Trail helps us understand how amazing items were made long ago. It also shows us what trading links existed in Anglo-Saxon times. We can learn how gold reached Britain and how it was carried. The trail also explores links to Birmingham's busy jewellery industry today.
Staffordshire's Role in Mercia
The trail helps us discover what role Staffordshire played in ancient Mercia. It shows what life was like in Staffordshire during Anglo-Saxon times. We can also see how the Hoard connects to other Anglo-Saxon finds in Staffordshire. A big question is why the Hoard was buried in Staffordshire.
Secrets of the Hoard
The trail also looks at the Hoard's connection to early Christianity. What does the special writing on some items tell us? Are there links to the Lichfield Angel or St Chad? What do the folded cross and serpents mean? Are there links to the St Chad Gospels?
We can also learn about important figures like Offa. The trail explores what battles happened and what role the Hoard might have played. Who owned the Hoard, and what wars did they fight in? What role did Tamworth play in ancient Mercia? Finally, the trail explains how archaeologists carefully dug up the Hoard and how they uncover its secrets.
