Villager's book traces treasures of Staffordshire Hoard
It was the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found and now seven years on a new book has been published exploring the origins of the Staffordshire Hoard.
Intrigued historian Robert Sharp went down to the site in Hammerwich when archaeologists were digging up the 3,500 treasure trove in 2009.
The 70-year-old, who lives in the village himself, has spent 18 months writing his book The Hoard and its History: Staffordshire's Secrets Revealed, where he argues that hundreds of pieces, specifically the Christian items, originated from the early church centre of Lichfield.
He said: "The book is angled on the Christian pieces that have yet to be properly explained. Ten per cent of the hoard are Christian.
"A lot has been said about the sword and dagger pieces, the military pieces but not much about the Christian side and I wanted that story to be told. They clearly came from the early church centre which must have been Lichfield.
"The argument is made that the most likely origin of many of the pieces was from Lichfield.
"I am not saying they are all from Lichfield because you just don't know.
"But the argument is made that the most likely explanation could be that pieces are from the the early church centre of Lichfield."
Mr Sharp is a guide at Lichfield Cathedral where a lot of the hoard pieces are on display.
The Staffordshire Hoard was famously found by metal detector Terry Herbert who was out trying his luck near his home.
