marilynLast weekend, I saw the "Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard" exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. So glad that I went! I'm still thinking about it.
The objects on view are small but quite fascinating. Although it's easy to think of the treasure as a viking hoard, it was great to see so many Anglo-Saxon artifacts. There are some intricate knotwork designs, as well as a pectoral cross attached to a coiled chain. Some objects are marked with runes, revealing names of particular people!
Although the treasure was buried around AD 900, individual objects turned out to be much older. An intricate vessel which held many of the smaller treasures originated in the Sasanian Empire (present-day Iran), and carved Roman rock crystal had been repurposed as an ornate jar.
For the sake of accuracy, I should mention that the Melbourne exhibition only includes replicas of those two particular artifacts. That's because the original artifacts were wrapped in fragile textiles, which the archaeologists have taken great care to preserve.
Hooray for careful archaeology! X-rays and CT scans revealed the secrets beneath the fabric, including Zoroastrian imagery (and tigers and leopards too). Meanwhile, the original crystal jar, which has finally been unwrapped, can now be seen in Scotland. I felt lucky to see as much as I did, on the other side of the world.
This exhibition's final day in Melbourne is 26 January, so if you're interested, there's still time.
Melbourne Museum info:
https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/treasures-of-the-viking-age-the-galloway-hoard/
Lots more info from National Museums Scotland:
https://www.nms.ac.uk/discover-catalogue/galloway-hoard
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