This week there have been several news items related to treasure -- of one kind or another -- from the Middle Ages.

• Viking treasure found in Shenston
  An ingot dating to the 9th or 10th century was found less than five miles from the Staffordshire Hoard. See the article at This Is Lichfield.
  
  
• More treasure found near Tamworth
  A 15th-century silver link is of a design typical of the Lancastrian dynasty. Check out the item at This Is Tamworth.
  
  
• Bronze Brooch rises from the ashes
  A "zoomorphic penannular brooch" dating from around 600 C.E. was found in the remnants of a turf fire in Kerry, Ireland. Find out more in the feature by Anne Lucey at the Irish Times.
  
  
• Search for Columba's monastery
  A treasure hunt of a different kind is ongoing on the island of Iona. Archaeologists are seeking the original monastery built by Saint Columba when he first came to Scotland in the sixth century. Get the details in the article by Linda Engels at the Scotsman.

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While refurbishing a wall in a Tudor home, workmen discovered a painting done in the "Shropshire Scroll" style that is believed to date to the 16th century. The style is unique to Shropshire, and this particular example is more than twice as large as any other known painting. Find out more about the painting in the article at BBC News.

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After his capture in March of 1192, Richard I of England was held prisoner by Emperor Henry VI for nearly two years. A massive fund-raising effort was carried out in England to raise the 150,000-mark ransom, and on February 4, 1194, he was set free.

See what else took place on February 4th in medieval times through our This Date in Medieval History resource.

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Over the years, filmmakers have found some fairly rich source material in the Middle Ages -- from serious studies of the medieval psyche like The Seventh Seal and The Passion of Joan of Arc to much lighter fare such as The Court Jester and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Some have even been recognized by Oscar®.

This year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has recognized a lesser-known work by nominating it in the category of Best Animated Feature Film. The movie is The Secret of Kells, the story of a boy who must find a way to complete the legendary Book of Kells and stop the Viking attacks on the abbey he grew up in. I haven't seen the film myself; in fact, it isn't due to be released in the U.S. until March. But you can get a glimpse of the film at The Secret of Kells website, which includes a plot synopsis, a trailer, an image gallery and information about the voices.

The Secret of Kells is not a slick, Pixar-style production, but it does have some very nice artwork. Most intriguing of all, though it appears to be something of a fantasy, it does tell a story related to actual historical events and a treasured artifact of medieval times. I look forward to seeing it, though I may have to wait for it to come out on DVD so I can get it through Netflix.

For more about the Book of Kells, check out:

• The Book of Kells
  An introduction by your Guide
  
  
• Images from the Book of Kells
  Highlights from the book here at the Medieval History site

If you've seen The Secret of Kells, please feel free to share your impressions in the comments section of this blog.

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