Winchester Hoard
Encyclopedia
The Winchester Hoard is a hoard
of Iron Age
gold found in a field in the Winchester
area of Hampshire
, England
, in 2000, by a retired florist and amateur metal detector
ist, Kevan Halls. It was declared treasure
and valued at £350,000—the highest reward granted under the Treasure Act 1996
up to the time.
The hoard consists of two sets of jewellery of a very high purity of gold
dating from 75–25 BCE. Although, the items pre-date the Roman conquest of Britain
in 43 CE, the manufacturing technology was Roman rather than Celtic. The total weight of the items is nearly 1160 g (40.9 oz).
The find was described as "the most important discovery of Iron Age gold objects" for fifty years; and the items were probably an "expensive", "diplomatic gift". The brooches alone were "the third discovery of its kind from Britain
".
The Winchester Hoard is now housed at the British Museum
in London.
The first discovery, which was of the brooches, was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme
, and archaeologists attached to the British Museum were able to excavate the find site to ascertain the historical context of the find. No evidence of a settlement or temple, by way of architectural remnants, was found. It was more likely that the hoard was buried "on top of a small hill... covered with trees".
The hoard was declared treasure
following a coroner's inquest, and later valued at £350,000, which was shared between finder and landowner under the Treasure Act 1996
– the highest reward granted under that Act at that time. It was also the first time the context of a find was investigated by the British Museum in conjunction with said Act.
, a pair of brooch
es, or fibulae, linked by a chain (of which only one chain was found), and a bracelet
(of which one was broken in half). They were all made with a very high gold content – between 91% and 99% – determined by X-ray fluorescence
tests at the British Museum. The total weight of the hoard is 1158.8 gram (37.25 troy
ounces). It is dated from 75–25 BC, which places it in the Late British Iron Age
.
All of the brooches are of a bow type, with two being further classified as Knotenfibeln ("interlace fibulas"), typical of La Tène style The chain is of gold wire, interlinked, with a hook at either end to attach to each pair of brooches. The bracelets are, or were in the case of the broken one, ring shaped. The ends of the torcs exhibit some ornamentation (granulation
), and in the case of the smaller one, filigree
. Both granulation and filigree had been attached by diffusion solder
ing.
One of the torcs is larger than the other, so it is assumed that each was intended for different sexes, and that the items had been worn.
, over fifty years previously. The objects were also described as "unique", "very unusual" and even "iconic".
Given that gold brooches from the Iron Age are more rare than silver ones—in fact, this was only the third discovery of its kind from Britain, and one of "less than a dozen" from Northern Europe—it was possible to date the hoard more accurately by these. However, the torcs were unusual in that no others of this type had been found from Iron Age Britain, indeed Europe, up until then. The design was close to typical Iron Age torcs, but were made "using Roman
or Hellenistic Greek
technology", although this was several years before the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 AD – in other words, the execution was beyond the manufacturing knowledge of the Celts, and a link between Britain, Rome and Greece before such historical events. Moreover, social changes in Hampshire and West Sussex
in the first century BC were highlighted.
The dichotomy of Roman craftmanship against "Barbarian
taste" was further reinforced by Dr Jeremy Hills, who compiled both the British Museum and Treasure Annual Report for the hoard, by stating, "I would have liked them to have been made in Britain, but they weren't... They're massive, chunky and showy. No self-respecting Greek or Roman would have worn anything as gaudy".
It was determined that the hoard was not associated with grave goods
, and was not part of a hoard associated with a settlement or religious location. It may, instead, have been a personal collection or votive offering
. Hills further conjectured that "[t]hey were a very expensive gift, a major diplomatic gift", and that in doing so the Romans were "winning friends and influencing them", ultimately "conquering them that way". Ingratiating themselves with pro-Roman tribal kings, the Romans would have found it easier to quell internal unrest, thus making the recipients "puppet rulers beholden to the superpower of their age".
Who the recipient, or indeed the giver, of the "gift" was is still unknown. However, it could have a link to the Gaul
turncoat
, Commius
, who eventually became king of the Atrebates
after fleeing a position as aide to Caesar
which he took up in 56 BC.
, the Lewis chessmen
, and the Ringlemere Cup
.
In September 2003, BBC Two
screened a documentary on the discovery of the hoard.
Hoard
In archaeology, a hoard is a collection of valuable objects or artifacts, sometimes purposely buried in the ground. This would usually be with the intention of later recovery by the hoarder; hoarders sometimes died before retrieving the hoard, and these surviving hoards may be uncovered by...
of Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
gold found in a field in the Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
area of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 2000, by a retired florist and amateur metal detector
Metal detector
A metal detector is a device which responds to metal that may not be readily apparent.The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing an alternating current that passes through a coil producing an alternating magnetic field...
ist, Kevan Halls. It was declared treasure
Treasure trove
A treasure trove may broadly be defined as an amount of money or coin, gold, silver, plate, or bullion found hidden underground or in places such as cellars or attics, where the treasure seems old enough for it to be presumed that the true owner is dead and the heirs undiscoverable...
and valued at £350,000—the highest reward granted under the Treasure Act 1996
Treasure Act 1996
The Treasure Act of 1996 is an Act of Parliament designed to deal with finds of treasure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; it does not apply in Scotland. It legally obliges finders of objects which constitute a legally defined term of treasure to report their find to their local coroner...
up to the time.
The hoard consists of two sets of jewellery of a very high purity of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
dating from 75–25 BCE. Although, the items pre-date the Roman conquest of Britain
Roman conquest of Britain
The Roman conquest of Britain was a gradual process, beginning effectively in AD 43 under Emperor Claudius, whose general Aulus Plautius served as first governor of Britannia. Great Britain had already frequently been the target of invasions, planned and actual, by forces of the Roman Republic and...
in 43 CE, the manufacturing technology was Roman rather than Celtic. The total weight of the items is nearly 1160 g (40.9 oz).
The find was described as "the most important discovery of Iron Age gold objects" for fifty years; and the items were probably an "expensive", "diplomatic gift". The brooches alone were "the third discovery of its kind from Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
".
The Winchester Hoard is now housed at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in London.
Discovery and valuation
The hoard was discovered near Winchester over a series of trips to a farmer's ploughed field in September, October, and December, 2000 by retired florist and amateur metal detectorist Kevan Halls.The first discovery, which was of the brooches, was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme
Portable Antiquities Scheme
The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary programme run by the United Kingdom government to record the increasing numbers of small finds of archaeological interest found by members of the public...
, and archaeologists attached to the British Museum were able to excavate the find site to ascertain the historical context of the find. No evidence of a settlement or temple, by way of architectural remnants, was found. It was more likely that the hoard was buried "on top of a small hill... covered with trees".
The hoard was declared treasure
Treasure trove
A treasure trove may broadly be defined as an amount of money or coin, gold, silver, plate, or bullion found hidden underground or in places such as cellars or attics, where the treasure seems old enough for it to be presumed that the true owner is dead and the heirs undiscoverable...
following a coroner's inquest, and later valued at £350,000, which was shared between finder and landowner under the Treasure Act 1996
Treasure Act 1996
The Treasure Act of 1996 is an Act of Parliament designed to deal with finds of treasure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; it does not apply in Scotland. It legally obliges finders of objects which constitute a legally defined term of treasure to report their find to their local coroner...
– the highest reward granted under that Act at that time. It was also the first time the context of a find was investigated by the British Museum in conjunction with said Act.
Items discovered
The hoard contains two sets of gold jewellery; each includes a torcTorc
A torc, also spelled torq or torque, is a large, usually rigid, neck ring typically made from strands of metal twisted together. The great majority are open-ended at the front, although many seem designed for near-permanent wear and would have been difficult to remove. Smaller torcs worn around...
, a pair of brooch
Brooch
A brooch ; also known in ancient times as a fibula; is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments. It is usually made of metal, often silver or gold but sometimes bronze or some other material...
es, or fibulae, linked by a chain (of which only one chain was found), and a bracelet
Bracelet
A bracelet is an article of jewelry which is worn around the wrist. Bracelets can be manufactured from metal, leather, cloth, plastic or other materials and sometimes contain jewels, rocks, wood, and/or shells...
(of which one was broken in half). They were all made with a very high gold content – between 91% and 99% – determined by X-ray fluorescence
X-ray fluorescence
X-ray fluorescence is the emission of characteristic "secondary" X-rays from a material that has been excited by bombarding with high-energy X-rays or gamma rays...
tests at the British Museum. The total weight of the hoard is 1158.8 gram (37.25 troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
ounces). It is dated from 75–25 BC, which places it in the Late British Iron Age
British Iron Age
The British Iron Age is a conventional name used in the archaeology of Great Britain, referring to the prehistoric and protohistoric phases of the Iron-Age culture of the main island and the smaller islands, typically excluding prehistoric Ireland, and which had an independent Iron Age culture of...
.
All of the brooches are of a bow type, with two being further classified as Knotenfibeln ("interlace fibulas"), typical of La Tène style The chain is of gold wire, interlinked, with a hook at either end to attach to each pair of brooches. The bracelets are, or were in the case of the broken one, ring shaped. The ends of the torcs exhibit some ornamentation (granulation
Granulation
Granulation can refer to:*Granulation is the act or process of forming or crystallizing into grains*Granulation tissue, a product of healing in major wounds;*Granular synthesis, a sound synthesis method;...
), and in the case of the smaller one, filigree
Filigree
Filigree is a delicate kind of jewellery metalwork made with twisted threads usually of gold and silver or stitching of the same curving motifs. It often suggests lace, and in recent centuries remains popular in Indian and other Asian metalwork, and French from 1660 to the late 19th century...
. Both granulation and filigree had been attached by diffusion solder
Solder
Solder is a fusible metal alloy used to join together metal workpieces and having a melting point below that of the workpiece.Soft solder is what is most often thought of when solder or soldering are mentioned and it typically has a melting range of . It is commonly used in electronics and...
ing.
One of the torcs is larger than the other, so it is assumed that each was intended for different sexes, and that the items had been worn.
Item specifications
| Item № | Description | Length or diameter | Thickness | Weight | Gold content (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooch 1 | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 22.2 g (0.783081958733486 oz) | 94% | |
| 2 | Brooch 2 | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 22.5 g (0.793664147365019 oz) | 94% | |
| 3 | Chain | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 4.4 mm (0.173228346456693 in) | 23.6 g (0.832465505680642 oz) | 94% |
| 4 | Brooch 3 | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20.7 g (0.730171015575818 oz) | 92% | |
| 5 | Brooch 4 | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20.5 g (0.723116223154795 oz) | 91% | |
| 6 | Bracelet (complete) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 94.1 g (3.3 oz) | 95% | |
| 7 | Bracelet (half) | 53.3 g (1.9 oz) | 99% | ||
| 8 | Bracelet (half) | 53.1 g (1.9 oz) | 99% | ||
| 9 | Torc 1 | 480 mm (18.9 in) | 11 mm (0.433070866141732 in) | 516.7 g (18.2 oz) | 94% |
| 10 | Torc 2 | 440 mm (17.3 in) | 8.3 mm (0.326771653543307 in) | 332.1 g (11.7 oz) | 97% |
Significance
The find was called "the most important discovery of Iron Age gold objects" since the Snettisham HoardSnettisham Hoard
The Snettisham Hoard, Snettisham Treasure or Snettisham Torc, is a series of discoveries of Iron Age precious metal, found in the Snettisham area of the English county of Norfolk between 1948 and 1973....
, over fifty years previously. The objects were also described as "unique", "very unusual" and even "iconic".
Given that gold brooches from the Iron Age are more rare than silver ones—in fact, this was only the third discovery of its kind from Britain, and one of "less than a dozen" from Northern Europe—it was possible to date the hoard more accurately by these. However, the torcs were unusual in that no others of this type had been found from Iron Age Britain, indeed Europe, up until then. The design was close to typical Iron Age torcs, but were made "using Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
or Hellenistic Greek
Hellenistic civilization
Hellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BCE to about 146 BCE...
technology", although this was several years before the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 AD – in other words, the execution was beyond the manufacturing knowledge of the Celts, and a link between Britain, Rome and Greece before such historical events. Moreover, social changes in Hampshire and West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
in the first century BC were highlighted.
The dichotomy of Roman craftmanship against "Barbarian
Barbarian
Barbarian and savage are terms used to refer to a person who is perceived to be uncivilized. The word is often used either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos, typically a tribal society as seen by an urban civilization either viewed as inferior, or admired as a noble savage...
taste" was further reinforced by Dr Jeremy Hills, who compiled both the British Museum and Treasure Annual Report for the hoard, by stating, "I would have liked them to have been made in Britain, but they weren't... They're massive, chunky and showy. No self-respecting Greek or Roman would have worn anything as gaudy".
It was determined that the hoard was not associated with grave goods
Grave goods
Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are the items buried along with the body.They are usually personal possessions, supplies to smooth the deceased's journey into the afterlife or offerings to the gods. Grave goods are a type of votive deposit...
, and was not part of a hoard associated with a settlement or religious location. It may, instead, have been a personal collection or votive offering
Votive offering
A votive deposit or votive offering is one or more objects displayed or deposited, without the intention of recovery or use, in a sacred place for broadly religious purposes. Such items are a feature of modern and ancient societies and are generally made in order to gain favor with supernatural...
. Hills further conjectured that "[t]hey were a very expensive gift, a major diplomatic gift", and that in doing so the Romans were "winning friends and influencing them", ultimately "conquering them that way". Ingratiating themselves with pro-Roman tribal kings, the Romans would have found it easier to quell internal unrest, thus making the recipients "puppet rulers beholden to the superpower of their age".
Who the recipient, or indeed the giver, of the "gift" was is still unknown. However, it could have a link to the Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
turncoat
Turncoat
A turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party...
, Commius
Commius
Commius was a historical king of the Belgic nation of the Atrebates, initially in Gaul, then in Britain, in the 1st century BC.-Ally of Caesar:...
, who eventually became king of the Atrebates
Atrebates
The Atrebates were a Belgic tribe of Gaul and Britain before the Roman conquests.- Name of the tribe :Cognate with Old Irish aittrebaid meaning 'inhabitant', Atrebates comes from proto-Celtic *ad-treb-a-t-es, 'inhabitants'. The Celtic root is treb- 'building', 'home' The Atrebates (singular...
after fleeing a position as aide to Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
which he took up in 56 BC.
Display
The hoard is now housed in Room 50 of the British Museum in London and was part of the Buried Treasure: Finding Our Past exhibition (November 2003 — November 2005). Among other items in the exhibition were the Mildenhall TreasureMildenhall Treasure
The West Row Treasure is a major hoard of highly decorated Roman silver tableware from the fourth-century AD, found at West Row, near Mildenhall in the English county of Suffolk...
, the Lewis chessmen
Lewis chessmen
The Lewis Chessmen are a group of 78 12th-century chess pieces, most of which are carved in walrus ivory...
, and the Ringlemere Cup
Ringlemere Cup
The Ringlemere Gold Cup is a Bronze Age vessel found in the Ringlemere barrow near Sandwich in the English county of Kent in 2001 by metal detectorist Cliff Bradshaw. Although badly crushed by recent plough damage it can be seen to have been 14 cm high with corrugated sides...
.
In September 2003, BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
screened a documentary on the discovery of the hoard.