VIKING treasures discovered by metal detectorists in North Yorkshire are going back on public display in the Yorkshire Museum after being conserved.

The intricate details and beautiful motifs of the Bedale hoard have been revealed during the work by the York Archaeological Trust.

Tiny cuts have become visible which show the testing of the purity of the silver, said a museum spokesman.

"Samples of wood and textile have also been found which give clues to how it was buried," he said.

"Conservation has revealed that several of the ingots in the Bedale Hoard have been engraved with the symbol of the cross, linking these parts of the hoard to Christianity."

The Hoard was found in 2012 and bought by the museum in York this May after generous donations from the public and grants from funders raised £50,000 to buy it.

As well as an inlaid gold sword pommel, unique silver neck ring and neck collar and a silver arm ring, the hoard also includes 29 silver ingots, two other silver neck rings and gold rivets. Archaeologists believe it is from the late ninth or early tenth century.

Natalie McCaul, curator of archaeology at York Museums Trust, said: “It is only now that the hoard has been conserved that we can see its real beauty and the incredible craftsmanship involved in creating some of the artefacts.

“The Anglo Saxon sword pommel is probably the stand out piece. This is something that has been plundered by the Vikings and the conservation has meant we can now see the fantastic and delicate gold leaf patterns much more clearly and in some cases for the first time.”

She said the hoard was making experts think about this part of Yorkshire in the Viking period in a different way. "It contains objects from across the Viking world including rare and unique pieces such as the huge silver neck ring; one of the largest examples of its type ever found."

The hoard will be on show in the museum's Medieval Gallery from today.