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Crowds visit Anglo-Saxon hoard Crowds visit Anglo-Saxon hoard
(33 minutes later)
Hundreds of people have been queuing to see part of the UK's biggest haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure in Birmingham.Hundreds of people have been queuing to see part of the UK's biggest haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure in Birmingham.
About 1,300 mainly gold and silver items have been examined by experts after being found by treasure hunter Terry Herbert in Staffordshire.About 1,300 mainly gold and silver items have been examined by experts after being found by treasure hunter Terry Herbert in Staffordshire.
Visitors to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery will be able to see a selection of the items until 13 October.Visitors to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery will be able to see a selection of the items until 13 October.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council said a local museum was the "natural place" for the collection to be kept.Stoke-on-Trent City Council said a local museum was the "natural place" for the collection to be kept.
Mr Herbert, 55, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, discovered the hoard just below the surface of a cultivated field in the south of the county in July, using a metal detector.Mr Herbert, 55, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, discovered the hoard just below the surface of a cultivated field in the south of the county in July, using a metal detector.
The collection, which may date to the 7th Century, contains about 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver.The collection, which may date to the 7th Century, contains about 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver.
'In partnership''In partnership'
It was declared treasure by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh, meaning it belongs to the Crown.It was declared treasure by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh, meaning it belongs to the Crown.
After its public showing the hoard's worth will be assessed by the Treasure Valuation Committee.After its public showing the hoard's worth will be assessed by the Treasure Valuation Committee.
Mr Herbert and the landowner will share the value of the hoard.Mr Herbert and the landowner will share the value of the hoard.
Roger Bland, head of portable antiquities and treasure at the British Museum, has said: "The most we can say is, I think we're fairly confident it is likely to be a seven-figure sum."Roger Bland, head of portable antiquities and treasure at the British Museum, has said: "The most we can say is, I think we're fairly confident it is likely to be a seven-figure sum."
People queued to get into Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Once a market value has been ascertained, museums will be able to bid for the collection.Once a market value has been ascertained, museums will be able to bid for the collection.
A joint acquisition between Staffordshire County Council, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery has already been proposed.A joint acquisition between Staffordshire County Council, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery has already been proposed.
'Long way'
Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Ross Irving said "short of intervention by the government" he believed the hoard would come to the city.Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Ross Irving said "short of intervention by the government" he believed the hoard would come to the city.
He said: "It has to be valued first of all, so we can find out how much we need to raise to actually buy it.He said: "It has to be valued first of all, so we can find out how much we need to raise to actually buy it.
"We're hoping we're going to do that in partnership with other authorities.""We're hoping we're going to do that in partnership with other authorities."
Rita McClean, from Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, said: "There's a long way to go before there's a clear outcome as to how it's acquired and where it goes.Rita McClean, from Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, said: "There's a long way to go before there's a clear outcome as to how it's acquired and where it goes.
"The find liaison officer that was the first contact is based at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and so in a sense that's why the finds came to us.""The find liaison officer that was the first contact is based at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and so in a sense that's why the finds came to us."
The Staffordshire hoard is far bigger than the Sutton Hoo discovery in 1939 when 1.5kg of Anglo-Saxon gold was found near Woodbridge in Suffolk.The Staffordshire hoard is far bigger than the Sutton Hoo discovery in 1939 when 1.5kg of Anglo-Saxon gold was found near Woodbridge in Suffolk.
The treasure - which includes a large number of sword pommels and hilt plates as well as a quantity of silver - has been hailed as "a fantastically important discovery" which will redefine perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England.The treasure - which includes a large number of sword pommels and hilt plates as well as a quantity of silver - has been hailed as "a fantastically important discovery" which will redefine perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England.