BrotherThe intact seal discovered in Suffolk depicts the Virgin Mary holding her child and belongs to a 13th-century abbess.
George Henderson and the 800 year old seal. Photo: Hansons Auctioneers
While searching a field in Woodbridge, Suffolk with his father, 10-year-old George Henderson from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire found a 13th-century seal, a metal artifact used to seal and certify the document. George learned metal detection from his father, who maintained the hobby for 20 years. George had to dig about 13cm deep to unearth the seal. The father and son were able to identify this as an antique based on the design and the old-fashioned Latin inscription.
The seal is quite small in size and oval in shape. George and the boy’s father did not know the exact date of the item, but experts later confirmed it was manufactured in the 13th century. The inscription on the seal refers to a monastery founded near Woodbridge in 1171 and a man named Adam served as abbot at Butley Abbey for 16 years from 1219 to 1235. This seal was designed as the official seal of Adam.
In the Middle Ages, high officials or followers of dignitaries stamped important documents to confirm their identity. The seal is usually engraved with a separate image representing the owner. Abbot Adam’s seal depicts the Virgin Mary holding her child. Butley Abbey dedicated to Mary from its opening in 1171 until closing in 1538.
Such medieval seals are rare in archaeological excavations. People of that period often melted metal seals when they were worn out or no longer in use. Maybe Adam’s seal was lost and buried, so it still exists today.
George and his family decided to auction the seal on March 24 through Hansons Auctioneers and raised the amount of $5,260. George will share a portion of the money with the farmer who owns the field where the seal was excavated as required by law.
An Khang (According to Ancient Origins)
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
