Researchers at the University of Cambridge and other European institutions have uncovered an intriguing mystery surrounding the use of silver coins in Anglo-Saxon England between 660 and 750 CE. By combining laser ablation with traditional trace-element analysis, the team was able to match isotopic abundances of silver bullion in the coins with known sources of metal ores from the period.
The study, published in Antiquity, focused on 49 coins from the collections of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, all dating back to the “long eighth century.” The team found that the earlier coins had an isotopic signature matching silver mined in the Byzantine Empire, while the later coins contained silver characteristic of a location in modern-day France.
Lead researcher Jane Kershaw of the University of Oxford described the findings as “quite astounding,” highlighting the dependence of England on silver from the Continent during this period. The use of laser ablation allowed for minimally invasive sampling with high-precision results, revealing details about medieval refining and smelting processes.
Kershaw believes that the study’s methods are powerful and have the potential to revolutionize the understanding of historical artifacts. By combining lead isotope and trace element data, researchers can now draw conclusions about the origins and processing of silver coins from various time periods.
Overall, this research sheds light on the economic interactions between different regions in the early medieval world and showcases the power of modern scientific techniques in unraveling historical mysteries.
