Mysterious Anglo-Saxon object ‘made by someone with a real eye for loveliness’ is discovered in Norfolk – and experts have no idea what it is

A mysterious Anglo-Saxon object 'made by someone with a real eye for beauty' has been discovered in Norfolk, but experts have no idea what it is.

The ornate silver object, measuring just 19.4mm in diameter, was found by a metal detector near Langham, a small village about 30 miles from Norwich.

It shows an animal, most likely a horse, looking over his shoulder, accompanied by elaborate lines reminiscent of the famous religious Book Of Kells.

Experts say the find dates back to the late 8th or early 9th century, but is “completely different” from any other objects discovered by detectorists in the region.

What exactly it was used for is up for debate, although it is speculated that it was jewelry, a piece of clothing, or even part of a knife.

The object was discovered by a metal detector near Langham, a small village about 30 miles from Norwich

“It's so small and yet it's as carefully crafted as something like a Bible or a piece of jewelry,” historian Helen Geake said. the BBC.

'There's a retarded looking animal in there – possibly a horse – that fills the space nicely and I love the color of it.

'We often no longer see the colors of the past, because clothing does not survive and enamel disappears from the institutions.'

The object has a flat, round top with straight sides – similar to a bottle cap, but much more graceful – and appears crumpled, but is otherwise in good condition.

Whoever made it may have mixed mercury from Spain with gold powder to accentuate the horse at the top, the expert said.

It could have been part of a larger object that became detached and has since been lost – or has yet to be discovered.

Whatever it is, a lot of skilled work went into its creation, said Ms Geake, who appeared on the TV show Time Team.

The craftsman would have been “really multi-talented and did a lot of different things,” she added.

Experts say it dates from the late 8th or early 9th century and is “completely different” from any other similar mysterious objects discovered by detectorists in the region. Here are photos of the object from multiple angles

The object has a flat, round top with straight sides – similar to a bottle cap, but much more graceful

'It's a mysterious object and you can't tell at all what kind of thing it is.

“But it was made by someone with a real eye for sweetness.”

According to Ms Geake, the spiral pattern on the sides resembles the markings on the Book of Kells, the illuminated religious manuscript.

One of the most famous medieval manuscripts in the world, the Book of Kells, was previously believed to have been created by a single group of monks around the year 800.

The spirals are also recognizable from the Lindisfarne Gospel, another illuminated manuscript written around 715-720 AD. was produced and is now in the British Library in London.

This suggests that the find has religious significance and may have been worn, although it does not look like what you would normally see around someone's neck.

Historians know that Anglo-Saxon men and women wore jewelry, but gold and silver chains were rare and worn by women of high rank.

John Blair, professor of medieval history and archeology at the University of Oxford, said there were “several possibilities” for what it could be.

'My own best guess is that they are caps from the ends of wooden handles, covering the hammered end of the blade tang,' he told MailOnline.

The Anglo-Saxons were fierce warriors and tribes often fought each other for territory. They ruled Britain from 500 years until 1066, when they were conquered by the Normans at the Battle of Hastings (pictured here)

MailOnline has contacted the British Museum and Norfolk Museum Services for comment.

Members of the public took to Reddit to discuss what the object could be – some more seriously than others.

One said it 'looks like a signet ring or stamp to seal things with wax', even though this practice dates back much later, to about the 16th century.

Another speculated it was a “little metal cup” that was stepped on, while another joked: “More proof that people have always loved bling.”

WHAT IS KELLS' BOOK?

The Book of Kells manuscript, which overshadowed all other artistic and cultural achievements of the early Middle Ages, was created by Irish monks around 800 AD to glorify the life of Christ.

It was made of calfskin leaves decorated with elaborate illustrations and Latin calligraphy.

It contains the Latin text of the four Gospels and all but two pages are decorated with intricate designs and symbolic images.

The Book of Kells manuscript, which overshadowed all other artistic and cultural achievements of the early Middle Ages, was created by Irish monks around 800 AD to glorify the life of Christ

It is thought that it would have taken a team of illustrators up to 30 years to complete.

It appears that three artists produced the main decorated pages.

A monastery founded around 561 AD by St. Colum Cille on Iona, an island near Mull in western Scotland, became the main house of a great monastic confederation.

In 806 AD, following Viking raids on the island that killed 68 of the community, the Columban monks took refuge in a new monastery in Kells, County Meath.

An outbreak of disease, possibly smallpox, that struck the monastery in the early ninth century may also have contributed to this move.

The manuscript remained there for almost 700 years, except for one incident when it was stolen and found weeks later without its gold jeweled cover and some pages missing.

It came to Trinity College, Dublin in 1661 AD and can still be seen there today.

The Book of Kells first began in a monastery on Iona, an island off the coast of western Scotland. In 806 AD, the monks moved to Kells in County Meath, Ireland, following a Viking raid. The manuscript came to Trinity College, Dublin, in 1661 AD, where it remains today

The first mention of this work of art is in the Annals of Ulster from the year 1007 AD. stone church of Cenannus (Kells)'.

Over the past century, more and more scholars wanted access to the manuscript.

In 1986, Trinity College allowed Facsimile Verlag of Lucerne, Switzerland, to photograph the entire manuscript and produce a limited edition of 1,480 numbered copies.

Most of these are in libraries around the world.