Just a quick post really to highlight a nice find I’ve had recorded with me recently. Although it is not complete, in fact it is probably less than a quarter of the original item, this fragment of an Iron Age bracelet is a really exciting find!
Cast copper alloy part of a collar or knobbed bracelet of Late Hallstatt or early La Tene date (800-350BC).
It consists of three raised solid domes, linked together in a line, slightly curved and flat on the reverse. The left-hand side dome/knob (as on the photograph) has the remains of a circular cross-section stud or shaft which would have attached this section of the collar or bracelet to other sections. The right-hand side dome/knob has a central groove at the end which widens and goes from top to bottom and then runs along to the middle of the base of this section. It also has a circular hole one each side which would have held a bar. This end of the bracelet would have been the fastening end which would have attached the other end. The fragment is in good condition with a fairly consistent dark green patina.
Adam Gwilt of National Museums and Galleries Wales kindly looked at this image and has commented ‘ There is a good group of these knobbed bracelets in:- Cunliffe, B. (1988) Mount Batten Plymouth; A Prehistoric and Roman Port, Oxford: OUCA Monograph No. 26. pages 61-2.Peter Northover has analysed them and there is a discussion of parallels including Clynnog, South Ferriby, Lincs, Scarborough, Yorks, Raisthorpe, Cowlam, Arras and Cold Citchen Hill Wiltshire and many parallels in west central Europe (eg cemetery at Hallstatt itself in Austria). They are rare in Britain. Cat No 50 in the report would appear to have a very similar perforated terminal. ‘
7:00am is an exciting time to be at Liverpool Street Station, provided you’re heading out of town. While most of the human stream paddles off in the direction of the underground or the canyons of Bishopsgate and London Wall, you have the prospect of an empty carriage and a relaxed, takeaway breakfast to look forward to.
Three members of the Central Unit found themselves faced with such pleasant circumstances recently, as we left the confines of Russell Square for a one-day dig in East Essex, organized by Laura McLean, the indefatigable Finds Liaison Officer, and her assistant and resident expert in Field Archaeology, Kate Orr. Just a few weeks before, Laura had had reported to her a preponderance of Bronze Age artifacts from a scattered hoard, and crucially, the detectorists who had located the material had come across what they believed was an intact ceramic vessel at the bottom of the ploughsoil. Not wanting to risk damaging the item, and recognising that a more thorough investigation might provide more information about the site, the finders backfilled the hole and resolved to get further assistance. Laura, hoping to get out to the site with the appropriate resources as soon as possible, made the appeal for a bit of manpower from London.
After a short strategic meeting in the capital, plans were finalised for our trip on Tuesday the 12th of October, when Janina Parol and Caroline Barton joined me in the early morning train journey. Unbeknownst to us, we were sharing the same train as Gemma and Justin of the production team contracted for an upcoming BBC archaeology series. Our boss at the British Museum, Michael Lewis, had told Gemma about this small-scale operation, and intrigued at the possibility of filming ‘archaeology in action’, Gemma decided to come along. It was as we disembarked on the single-platform station in rural Essex that we saw Justin and Gemma (who we recognized from a filming of the Frome Hoard) and it suddenly clicked that they could only be headed to the same field that we were. Laura greeted us warmly while at the same time sarcastically thanking her luck in anticipation of having to talk in front of the camera. It was no time at all before her reluctance was a long-distant memory, and her confident explanations ensured that Gemma and Justin were able to capture reams of great footage.
Only a matter a miles from the wide expanse of the Thames Estuary, we parked up on the side of a narrowing lane, next to a cluster of vehicles whose owners were concentrated in a tight group about ¼ mile away in the abutting field. The finders had been more than willing to make an early start with Kate and Laura, and we saw as we approached the site that a 2 x 2 metre grid had already been marked out around the location of the pot. Detectors in hand, the four finders were also marking with stakes the spot of strong signals in the vicinity, while the farmer, his wife and mother welcomed us warmly. Their wellies and warm coats told us they were determined to stick around for a while on this crisp but clear morning in order to see what we uncovered. After a short series of introductions, I enjoyed a chat with Mr W Hill about the known archaeology of the fields and town whilst the girls threw themselves into the manual labour.
The 2 x 2 grid encompassed not only the ceramic vessel but another group of bronze items the gentlemen had located and then reburied, and a third strong signal. These were marked with thin sticks and we undertook the sweaty task of mattocking through the turf-like layer of vegetation. It was impossible to disregard the influence of agriculture on the land here, for even as we removed a layer of plants and exposed the looser soil, in the background churned an indomitable blue beast of a tractor, ploughing the adjacent field into rigid waves of dirt. The farmer told us there had once been an orchard taking up part of the site, but all evidence of the trees had disappeared many years earlier when they were expertly ripped up from the ground. So we weren’t surprised that below the turf level there were no visible features in the soil, other than the obvious holes that the finders had refilled.
With that knowledge in mind we were content to clear the entire trench down to the bottom of the ploughsoil. This task greatly increased the size of our spoil heap and the finders dutifully checked it over at regular intervals for anything metallic we may have missed. Small copper-alloy stains in soil regularly caught our eye as we trowelled through the fairly loose earth. Everyone found minute copper-alloy and ceramic fragments, which were dutifully bagged and set aside. It was during this process that I unearthed the largest fragment found so far
Caroline’s favoured implement, ‘Neville the Northern Trowel’, who came by that nom de guerre on a University College London dig, proved his worth in displacing large quantities of loam. By tea-time (which was really about noon) we were down to the bottom of the ploughsoil in most parts of the trench. The farmer fetched a lorry’s load of hot water, tea bags, instant coffee and biscuits and we took a short break from playing in the dirt. Staring at the work done so far and checking the progress of the sun across the sky, we decided we would have to concentrate on the still barely visible pot. Taking it in turns, with the finders themselves chipping in, we cleared out the remainder of the backfill surrounding the pot and then slowly excavated down around it. Kate and Janina were the first to appreciate the increased frequency of charcoal flecks in the soil to the south-east of the pot and the marked difference in its resistance to the trowel compared to the soil on the other side of the trench. So it was that to our eyes emerged a distinguishable cut, running to northeast across the trench, the border of which housed a tight group of bronze items, about two feet from the port, that Laura meticulously excavated.
Meanwhile we took it in turns to slowly take down the soil around the pot, inch by inch, revealing a broken but largely intact vessel, skewed to one side. One of the gentleman produced a ‘magic wand’ (as I am taking to calling the hand-held precision detector which proved to be very handy) and it gave off a strong reading on the pot itself, and so it was that even before we had brushed off the remaining soil from the top and seen the tell-tale blue-green assortment of items inside, we knew the pot would be very heavy to lift. The excitement grew as a small but distinctive handle appeared on one side. Despite the severe damage it had suffered, the large pot was held intact by the mud on both sides, and we started wrapping it in cling film at the earliest opportunity. Thankfully Claire has supplied us with more than enough! Every few inches, another sheet of film was wound around the vessel, with the result that while we have a good idea of its overall shape, none of us present that day were able to see the pot in its entirety.
Finally the sides tapered off and we neared the bottom, and operations were halted to allow for planning of the trench and the objects inside. Kate employed Janina to help her plot out everything in scale. We had by that time also decided that the delicate task before us required a full stomach so we wolfed down the sandwiches we’d brought along for that purpose. The camera crew hurriedly changed a tape and made us promise not to lift the pot until they were ready, and we were more than happy to oblige.
When everyone was ready to go the actual lifting of the pot happened quickly and smoothly. Like the decisive blow of an axe that fells a mighty tree, so it was that one last probe with the trowel was enough to break the earth’s hold on the vessel and in a single motion it was lifted by several of us and placed in a plastic box, cushioned against any movement. At virtually the same time, Laura released from the ground the last of the intentionally broken bronze axeheads that she had been operating on and stored them safely away.
With that, much of the precision work was complete. Caroline aided several of the finders who were investigating signals outside of the trench, but these largely came to naught, and the work turned to the filling in of the trench. As the finds and equipment were packed away, the spoil head was thoroughly redeposited and in a short time we were walking away from a large brown square in an otherwise uniformly green field, with no other sign of our days’ work. But tucked safely away we carried with us knowledge of two sorts; the ancient Bronze Age artefacts themselves and the information about their precise location in the landscape and within the soil. We’re hoping that taken together, and combined with the items already handed in by the finders, we can begin to piece together a better picture of the activity taking place on this field 3,000 years ago.
It was refreshing to spend a day with a group of people so excited about the prehistory of the area. Looking out to the unspoiled horizon, Mr G Starr told us of his and his friends’ role in a local debate about the building of new wind turbines and their campaigning for an archaeological impact assessment as part of the approval process. Laura’s car was full of passengers, and Mr C Mann kindly gave us a lift to the station in his van and pointed out the highlights of the High Street as we trundled down the road. On the train back into London, empty again, we spread out across the benches and dozed, happy to have taken part in a small way in a case that occupied one folder of the 800 hanging in our filing cabinet.
Stay tuned for more on this story, as Laura updates us on the research into the items, and we provide updates on the hoard’s progress through the Treasure system.
Jeff Spencer, HER officer for Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) has written a short piece about his volunteer Rod, who after almost four years as a volunteer has decided to move on to pastures new. Rod has worked with Jeff recording artefacts for the PAS from Wrexham Heritage Society and independent metal detector users in Powys and Shropshire.
Jeff Writes:
Rod started volunteering with the PAS in 2007 and as a direct result of his work the annual totals of recorded artefacts by CPAT have virtually doubled with each successive year;
80 in 2007/8,
150 in 2008/9,
260 in 2009/10
and up to August in the 2010/11 financial year his total was already
266!
In addition his enthusiasm for meeting people and talking to them about finds and the PAS have been vital in helping build a strong and positive working relationship with the Wrexham Heritage Society, its members and also local independent metal detectorists, to say nothing of his excellent photographic skills.
Before working with us he had successful careers in the RAF and in banking in the Far East, from which he had to retire due to ill health.
The following are good examples of some of his records on the PAS database:
Both Jeff and I wish Rod a very happy second (or is it third) retirement and thank him most sincerely for all his hard work for the PAS. His commitment has made a huge difference to the PAS locally and he will be missed.
Jeff Spencer and Peter Reavill
A full list of finds recorded by Rod can be found here
In late September Laura McLean (Essex FLO) was contacted by a landowner who had given permission for a metal detectorist to search on his land. He had said that a few interesting objects had turned up, and could he bring them in for examination. Well, a few interesting objects actually turned out to be a lot of metal work, forming a Bronze Age Hoard. The landowner and the detectorist Mr J Humphreys brought the objects into Colchester and Ipswich Museums to be examined and reported under the Treasure Act.
Mr Humpreys was on holiday in Essex when he made the discovery. About a week later, Laura was contacted by three Essex based metal detectorists who also had permission to detect on the same land. Mr W Hill, Mr C Mann and Mr G Starr had recovered even more Bronze Age material from the same area as the original find.
Whilst recovering the metal work, the three detectorists discovered part of an in situ pottery vessel associated with the metalwork. Running their detectors over the visible rim of the pot, it was clear there was more metalwork to be retrieved, but knowing that this was in its original undisturbed Bronze Age context, the finders made the decision to back fill the hole (after a few photos!), leaving the pottery and remaining metalwork where it was. They called Laura McLean for advice, who began to plan an excavation.
In early October, Laura McLean, Kate Orr (assistant FLO) and three members of the Treasure Team, Ian Richardson, Janina Parol and Caroline Barton joined the landowner and four metal detectorists to excavate the known area of the hoard.
A 2 meter square trench was excavated with the help of the detectortists to find the remaining metal work concentrations and to locate the pottery vessel. Once the area marking the pot was reached, a careful excavation around the vessel began.
Excavating the hoard area
Unfortunately the plough hadn’t left the pot untouched. The vessel was clearly damaged and partly missing on one side, and there were clear fractures on the side that was more intact. The vessel had also slumped slightly to one side.
So a fragile, fractured pot, full of very heavy metal work. Decision time – should we excavate the vessel and contexts on site, or block lift?
As the chance to excavate an in situ hoard is so rare (as most reported are out of context in the plough soil) and the fact there is pottery involved makes it even more unusual, we made the decision to block lift as this would allow us to get the maximum amount of information about the deposit. This would also give us the opportunity to x-ray the vessel back in the lab, giving us a clearer understanding of the order objects were deposited in the vessel.
Wrapping the pot in clingfilm!
So, out came the cling film to hold the pot together whilst we dug around it and undermined it so that it could be lifted. This was a rather slow and painstaking process, making sure the vessel was supported whilst digging around it. Eventually the vessel was ready to be lifted, and for rather a small pot it was bloomin heavy with all the metalwork inside!
Excavating the pot
Lifting the pot
Work continues on the hoard at Colchester & Ipswich Museums…
The American gold double eagles from Hackney, for which the coroner has recently opened an inquest, are now on display at the British Museum. They can be found in the Portable Antiquities & Treasure case in the Early Medieval Gallery (Room 41) on the 1st floor. The coins are intended to remain on show until the conclusion of the inquest in early February 2011.
The Treasure Team are thankful for the cooperation of colleagues from the Museum of London and the British Museum for making this display possible.
Today, the value of the Frome Hoard has been announced at £320,250. Somerset County Council Heritage Service now has until 1 February 2011 to raise the funds in order to keep this important treasure on public display in the county in which it was discovered. The rare find, made up of 52,503 Roman coins dating from the 3rd century AD, was unearthed tightly packed in a pot and is the largest coin hoard to have been found in a single container.
The Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for works of art, today announces a grant of £40,250 to kick-start the appeal. For the first time, the Fund is offering members of the public the chance to double the value of their donation to the appeal. For every £1 donated by a member of the public, the Art Fund will match fund it – up to a total value of £10,000, thereby boosting the appeal with up to a further £20,000.
Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said:
“We’re extremely excited to be part of Somerset’s campaign to acquire this extraordinary treasure. To think that this pot packed full of coins lay buried beneath the soil for almost 2,000 years – it really is incredible. We need to save the hoard so that experts can carry out vital research – and so that new generations can enjoy and be inspired by it. As a way to encourage philanthropic giving and support from the public, we are also pleased to be offering members of the public the chance to double the value of their donation to the appeal by donating via us.”
Roger Bland, Head of Portable Antiquities & Treasure, British Museum said:
“Dave Crisp, the finder, behaved in an exemplary way. When he found the hoard he didn’t try and dig it out himself, but reported it to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, so that an archaeological excavation could be organised to recover the find systematically. As a result there is enormous potential to properly understand why and how this coin hoard was buried, and perhaps change pre-existing views on the hoarding and burial of such assemblages”.
Dave Crisp discovered the hoard on 11 April 2010 while metal-detecting near Frome, Somerset. The ‘Frome Hoard’ was declared Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 on 22 July. The coins range from c. AD 253 to c. 293 and except for five silver coins are all base-silver or bronze ‘radiate’ coins. Weighing 160 kilograms, it is said to be one of the largest and most important hoards of coins of this period in Britain. There are still mysteries surrounding why it was buried, and Dr Bland says that its discovery could make experts
“rethink the nature of such hoards.”
Over 760 of the coins belong to the emperor Carausius, a general in the Roman army who usurped against the Central Empire. Carausius set up his own empire in northern Gaul and Britain, and This is the largest group of his coins found anywhere. The entire hoard includes coins minted by 21 emperors and three emperors’ wives.
Because the coins were excavated by layer, experts were able to detect that most of the latest coins (those of Carausius) had lain over half-way down the pot. This led to the conclusion that the hoard was almost certainly buried in one event. The pot could not have held 160kg of metal without breaking. It therefore must have been buried in the ground before the coins were tipped in from smaller containers.
There has already been considerable local enthusiasm for the hoard. On 22 July, the County Council Heritage Service organised a special event showcasing a selection of coins from the find. Over 2,000 people and two school groups attended, many having to queue for up to an hour. A second event is planned for 23 October 2010. This will be a major opportunity for the public to find out more about the find and what they can do to help save it.
In addition to the target £320,250 needed to acquire the hoard for Somerset, an additional £35,000 will be needed for its long-term conservation.
The first book on the Frome Hoard, written by experts Sam Moorhead, Roger Bland and Anna Booth, and published by the British Museum Press, is now available from www.britishmuseumshoponline.org
50 pence of every sale will go towards the vital conservation costs..The Frome Hoard tells the remarkable story of the discovery of the hoard, describes the fascinating collection of coins it contains and offers an initial interpretation of the treasure, and its significance. Close-up photographs show intricate details of the amazing coins.
How to donate
To donate towards the appeal to save the hoard for Somerset, please register your interest via savefromehoard@artfund.org and the Art Fund will be in touch with details about how to donate. Every public donation will be match-funded by the Art Fund, up to a total of £10,000.
Ends
Notes to editors
The Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for works of art and plays a major part in enriching the range, quality and understanding of art in the UK. It campaigns, fundraises and gives money to museums and galleries to buy and show art, and promotes its enjoyment through its events and membership scheme. Current initiatives include sponsoring the UK tour of the ARTIST ROOMS collection, and running a major campaign in partnership with the National Trust to raise £2.7 million to save Brueghel’s The Procession to Calvary for Nostell Priory. The Art Fund is funded by its art-loving and museum-going members and supporters who believe that great art should be for everyone to enjoy. Find out more at www.artfund.org.
Portable Antiquities Scheme
The Portable Antiquities Scheme was established to encourage the recording of archaeological finds found by the public, and also supports the mandatory reporting of Treasure (such as the Frome Hoard) under the Treasure Act 1996. The Scheme is managed by the British Museum on behalf of the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council. Across England and Wales its Finds Liaison Officers liaise with finders and record their finds, which are published on its online database (www.finds.org.uk) so that people can learn about the archaeology of their local area, and also for the advancement of archaeological knowledge.
Contact Roger Bland, Head of Portable Antiquities and Treasure, 020 7323 8611; e-mail: rbland@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Museum of Somerset
The Frome Hoard will be prominently displayed in the Museum of Somerset, Taunton, when it re-opens in the Summer of 2010. The museum is presently undergoing a £6.9 million refurbishment largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Locally, support for the hoard’s acquisition has been shown by a contribution of £10,000 from the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society.
Contact Stephen Minnitt, Head of Museum 01823 347440 or 01823 278805. Email: scminnitt@somerset.gov.uk
Details on the Book
The first book on the Frome Hoard, written by Sam Moorhead, Roger Bland and Anna Booth, and published by the British Museum Press, available from www.britishmuseumshoponline.org, 48 pages, 50 colour illustrations, ISBN 978 0 7141 2334 9, PB £4.99. The Frome Hoard has been printed with the generous support of local Frome-based printers, Butler, Tanner & Dennis
The Authors
Sam Moorhead is National Finds Adviser for Iron Age and Roman coins in the department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum.
Anna Booth was Somerset County Council’s Finds Liaison Officer, and worked on the excavation of the hoard. She is now researching for a PhD at the University of Leicester.
Roger Bland is Head of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum. He is the co-author of The Staffordshire Hoard (British Museum Press)
