Anglo-Saxon Hoard
Visitors to the National Geographic Museum will encounter one of the largest and most valuable collections of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. This iPad-based installation shares the excitement of discovering such a rare treasure.
In the summer of 2009, an amateur archaeologist named Terry Herbert and his faithful metal detector uncovered an unexpected treasure in the farmlands of Staffordshire, England. Herbert phoned in experts and by the time all the objects had been unearthed, they counted more than 3,500 gold and metal artifacts, mostly dating from 650 A.D. However, few clues remained as to who buried the hoard, or why they had done it.
This suite of four different iPad applications supplements a traveling exhibit of the remarkable Saxon collection, helping visitors understand the historical and cultural context of the treasure. The app takes a forensic look at a selection of the objects, providing microscopic views of the surface, behind-the-scenes videos, and commentary from experts. Activities accompany several objects to help visitors appreciate the delicate art of preservation.