Anglo-Saxon gold discovered in Brit farmer's field 'to help rewrite history'

London, July 4 (ANI): A hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold discovered in a farmer's field in Britain could help rewrite history.

According to historians, the 'Staffordshire Hoard', which was found in July 2009, could hold vital clues to explain the conversion of Mercia, England's last great Pagan kingdom, to Christianity in the 7th Century.

Experts think the 1,500 pieces of gold are the spoils of an Anglo-Saxon battle, and TV historian Dan Snow believes the find has the potential to rewrite history books.

Snow said the conversion of Mercia "marked the beginning of a new era in English history".

"The Staffordshire Hoard is helping shine a light on exactly how and when the transformation occurred," the BBC quoted him as explaining.

The largest-ever haul of Anglo-Saxon gold was excavated between July 24 and August 21, 2009. Amateur metal detector enthusiast Terry Herbert discovered it near Brownhills, Staffordshire.

"England, remember, isn't England at all; England has yet to be invented - the word barely exists," historian David Starkey said.

"Instead, there were these rival warring Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that behaved like the worst kind of takeover bidders of the city. They decapitated each other - literally, not metaphorically.

"It's gang warfare, when you take over the territory of a rival gang, the lot get bumped off," he stated.

The hoard comprises more than 1,500 items, made of gold and silver, embedded with precious stones and jewels and was valued at nearly 3.3 million pounds.

After the Staffordshire Coroner ruled in September 2009 that the find was the "property of the Crown", arrangements were made for the valuation.

The money was split between Herbert, and Fred Johnson, who owns the farm where it was discovered.

More than 40 items from the Staffordshire Hoard are on display in this summer's Tour 2011 across the West Midlands. (ANI)