The collection of Anglo-Saxon brooches including some with dragon like creatures engraved on the front were among the first in Britain to have testing carried out on the garnets; decorative pieces of red gemstone. The results of this testing have provided evidence that the Anglo-Saxons were trading with India. Serpentine or dragon like shapes were common in Anglo-Saxon art as they were easy to work into the interlaced designs that were popular during the period. Beyond just being carved on jewellery and armour the association between dragons and treasure was particularly strong in Anglo-Saxon writing. Even entering proverbial saying such as the Maxim - A dragon must be in a mound old and proud in his ornaments. Students in the department of Anglo-Saxon Norse and Celtic come face to face with Dragons in a number of courses. Probably the most famous of these is the Dragon that defeats the eponymous hero of Beowulf and the epic poem's dramatic finale. This is what it sounds like in old English the language of the Anglo-Saxons.