Above is a pic of three massive stubble fields we had for our club dig today. But the main focus of today's dig was on the side of a field where a fellow club member, who's permission it is, discovered a hoard of sum 250 Roman coins scattered about a small area. The hoard is in the hands of the FLO and today we all descended on the field to see if any more could be found. Well, between all members about 15 more were dug so who knows how many more are too deep to find.
I must admit, it was a great feeling to be standing where known Romans had once stood. I kept looking around and wondering why they chose to bury their hoard in this spot. I suppose back in their day these fields may have been all forest. Maybe they were attacked and hid them, who really knows but it sure sends the imagination going.
Below is another pic of the small area the hoard was found and where the coins were found today. I believe there was just one Roman coin found in another field, all the rest were around this hoard area. Personally I never found a Roman myself but it was sure exciting seeing them pop up all around me.
After a couple of hours searching the hoard area I moved on and started having a look in other fields. Boy did I do some walking and it sure was hot and sunny and I felt it at the end of the dig, my legs were like lead.
So, what did I find....Nothing of great interest I believe. That figurine below set my heart pumping for a bit. It gave a banging signal, possibly pewter, I mean, when I first dug it I thought is it Roman?, well, you would do wouldn't you, finding it on a Roman hoard site. But after showing it around a bit to fellow members and there was no excitement about it I had to assume its just an ornament off grannies sideboard. Bet it looked lovely in its day, you can still see some nice colouring still on it. A grot penny and halfpenny there with a buckle. A sort of tap and a modern cartridge.
Certainly was an interesting day and as the site was practically on my doorstep, less than 10 minutes drive from my house, it was a great feeling that the Romans were around our area.... Gives me goosebumps thinking about it.
I had the pleasure of talking with Sam Moorhead last week, he mentioned a hoard that had been found in "your neck of the woods". Very interesting find, particularly when considering how rare Roman finds are in that area. I'm assuming this is the same hoard.
ReplyDeleteJordan
Sam Moorhead, now there's a bloke who knows his Roman coins, I was only looking at his new book the other day, published last year 'A History of Roman Coinage', looks really good.
DeleteThis hoard is still in the hands of the FLO and not been publicised yet, but still could be the same one.
Its a great book, I can recommend it mate :) Mines signed now...Yeah yeah I was sad enough to ask him to dedicate it to me :D
ReplyDeleteJordan.
Hi again Janner, The hoard Sam was taliking about was iirc, found by two detectorists, one of which is sadly no longer with us. He also mentioned that it had gone along way in helping historians etc determining the route the Romans took into Cornwall.
ReplyDeleteJordan.
The only other Roman hoard I have come across from within Plymouth was found in 1894 in the then village of Compton. There's been a few odd Roman coin finds in and around Plymouth so the Romans were active down here.
DeleteIt is a different hoard mate, Just been speaking to a guy "in the know" The one you were at was Newtown Abbott way I believe?
ReplyDeleteJordan.
Ah right, possibly a different hoard I've not heard about. The one we were at was in fields surrounding Plymouth. As its in the hands of the FLO we have been asked to keep schtum about the exact location. Hopefully it won't be too long before its released to the press.
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