The Hawksne Hoard is a significant archaeological discovery in the United Kingdom, characterized by its size and historical importance. Here are some key details about the Hawksne Hoard:
1. Discovery: The Hawksne Hoard was discovered by Eric Lawes, a metal detectorist, in the village of Hawksne in Suffolk County, England, in 1992. Eric Lawes was initially searching for a lost hammer when he stumbled upon the treasure.
2. Contents: The hoard consists of an impressive collection of late Roman silver and gold items, including 14,865 Roman gold, silver, and bronze coins. In addition to the coins, the hoard contains about 200 pieces of silverware and gold jewelry.
3. Valuation: In 1993, the Treasure Appraisal Committee estimated the value of the Hawksne Hoard at £1.75 million. Adjusted for inflation, this would be equivalent to approximately £3.59 million in 2019.
4. Burial: The treasure was buried in an oak box or small chest, which was filled with precious metal objects. These items were carefully sorted by type, with some stored in smaller wooden boxes and others wrapped in bags or cloth. Archaeological excavations uncovered the remains of the chest, as well as fixtures like hinges and locks.
5. Historical Context: The coins in the hoard date from after A.D. 407, which coincides with the end of Britain as a Roman province. The exact owners and reasons for burying the hoard remain unknown. However, the meticulous packaging of the treasure suggests that it may have belonged to a very wealthy individual or family.
6. Unique Items: The Hawksne Hoard includes rare and important items, such as a gold body chain and gilded silver pepper pots, including the Empress pepper pot. These artifacts provide valuable insights into the material culture and wealth of the time.
7. Archaeological Significance: The Hawksne Hoard is significant not only for its size but also for the fact that it was excavated by professional archaeologists. Most of the objects were found intact and undamaged, contributing to our understanding of the past.
8. Legal Impact: The discovery of the hoard has had a lasting impact on metal detecting and archaeology in the UK. It has played a role in improving relations between metal detectorists and archaeologists and has influenced changes in English law regarding the reporting and handling of treasure finds.
Today, many of the important pieces from the Hawksne Hoard are on permanent display at the British Museum in London, allowing the public to appreciate the historical and cultural significance of this remarkable find.
The treasure mainly consists of gold and silver coins and jewelry, totaling 3.5 kg (7.7 pounds) of gold and 23.75 kg (52.4 pounds) of silver. [23] It was placed in a wooden chest made mostly or entirely of oak , measuring approximately 60 × 45 × 30 cm (23.6 × 17.7 × 11.8 in). In the chest, some items were apparently placed in smaller boxes of yew and cherry, while others were packed in woolen cloth or hay. The chest and inner boxes were almost completely destroyed after burial, but fragments of the chest and its fixtures were discovered during excavations. The main objects found were:
- 569 gold coins.
- 14,272 silver coins, including 60 miliards and 14,212 flints
- 24 bronze coins
- 29 pieces of gold jewelry
- 98 silver spoons and scoops
- A silver tiger made as a handle for a vessel
- 4 silver bowls and a small dish
- 1 silver tumbler
- 1 silver vase or jug
- 4 pepper pots, including an Empress pepper pot
- Toiletries, such as toothpicks.
- 2 silver locks from decomposed remnants of wooden or leather boxes
- Traces of various organic materials, including a small ivory pixie
