This sherd is rare for Staffordshire. In 1959 a symposium on Anglo-Saxon pottery contained the statement, “No middle-Saxon handmade pottery is known in Lincolnshire and the Midlands.” Vince in 2002 listed the following sites in Staffordshire where Saxon pottery has been found: Catholme, Berth Hill (one sherd), Stafford (only late Saxon), Stapenhill, Wolseley bridge and Wychnor (quarry finds only). Surprisingly, only late Saxon sherds have been found in Lichfield. There have been recent finds of Saxon pieces at Packington, near Hints.
The Saxon pendent (left), the Hammerwich Hoard and this roundel found about 100metres away from the hoard have been found by metal detecting in the last decade.Neolithic and Roman finds suggest occupancy prior to any possible Saxon settlement.
But does this all add up to Hammerwich (almost certainly a Saxon name) having a Saxon hamlet? For certainty, it needs the discovery of Saxon houses. It also needs far more Saxon finds in this part of Saxon Offlow, especially since it is not near any major river or burial mounds (the nearest are at Barton and the Trent). It also needs stressing that Hammerwich was a boundary area (Tamworth/Penkridge tribes, south and north Mercia, west and east of Watling street, heathland from Sutton Park to woodland and Canke forest), since boundaries were very important to the Mercians.
What is needed is to establish whether the hoard area has other Saxon artefacts, whether Knaves Castle was Saxon, is there a Roman settlement at Hammerwich Hall Farm which is then reused by local British/Saxon people, determine the relationship between Saxon Lichfield and Wall with Hammerwich, determine the importance of Saxon Ogley Hay (it is daft to call the hoard site after Ogley Hay without knowing the provenance of this name and area).
So is Hammerwich a significant Saxon site? No. But could be.
