Illuminating a far-travelled vessel

The Galloway Hoard, which we explored in detail in CA 376, is the earliest-known Viking Age hoard found in Scotland and contains many unique artefacts. One of the most-intriguing objects, though, is this silver-gilt vessel. Found in the lowest layer of the hoard, swaddled in textiles, it held a diverse array of carefully packaged objects, including beads, curios, and pendants, as well as examples of Anglo-Saxon metalwork not otherwise known in Scotland. In preparation for the complex conservation and analysis of both the vessel and its wrapping, 3D X-ray imaging was undertaken at the British Museum. Further modelling of the data (produced with the help of the Glasgow School of Art and Ste