Silver Thistle Brooch

This brooch was found in 1785, by a boy in a field where several other silver objects have since been found. It was first believed to be a Templar brooch, however later research has suggested that it is actually of a style commonly found in Ireland, and this style was popular in Norse trading settlements all over modern day England. The brooch itself is large and quite heavy, and is made of an extremely fine quality silver, which during the Viking Age, would have meant wealth and power. This piece of jewelry would have been commonly used by women (and men in some cases) at the time, to hold up parts of their garments. This particular brooch was likely, based on what we know of similar items, owned by a woman who was either herself wealthy, or had a wealthy husband.
It appears based on the findings from the British Museum, those that are published, that this object was found by itself, rather than as part of a hoard or a burial, however it is possible that other such objects may have been deposited nearby, or that if this was part of a burial or hoard, that it was looted and that this and a few other silver objects are all that remain in this particular field.

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