Ten years on from the discovery of the Viking-age Galloway Hoard in Scotland, experts have now revealed that part of the collection came from around 2,600 miles away.
The collection - described as one of the most important UK archaeological finds of the century - was found by metal detectorist in 2014.
A lidded silver vessel was discovered still wrapped in its ancient textiles, which is extremely rare, and meant that the surface of the vessel could at first only be seen through X-ray scans.
Experts have just revealed that the vessel is originally from what is now central Iran and that it was therefore transported halfway around the known world more than 1,000 years ago. The vessel was found to contain other treasures, like silk and brooches.
Its textiles have now been partially removed and preserved, and the vessel has been cleaned using lasers which removed any green corrosion and revealed details of the design, including crowns, fire altars, leopards and tigers - imagery that is linked with the iconography of Zoroastrianism, the state religion of the Sasanian Empire, which was the last Persian empire before the early Muslim conquests from 632AD.
Dr Martin Goldberg from the National Museums Scotland said the vessel was "further evidence of the cosmopolitan make-up of the Galloway Hoard".
"It is incredible to imagine how the vessel made its journey halfway round the known world, from Iran to this distant corner of southwest Scotland.”
The artefact from about 900AD is set to go on public display for the first time next week, on loan to the British Museum’s upcoming Silk Roads exhibition in London.
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