The Corbridge Treasure is a collection of iron artifacts that was excavated in 1964 at the Roman site of Coria, near what is now Corbridge in Northumberland, England. It should not be confused with the gold coin hoard found nearby in 1911.
This treasure was discovered within the central row of administrative buildings in one of the earlier forts that underlie the later Roman city. It is believed to date from between 122 and 138 AD.
The contents of the Corbridge Treasure, which consisted of iron/steel, copper alloy, lead alloy, stone, glass, and organic objects, were found buried in an iron-clad leather chest. This chest was constructed from alder planks joined together with dovetails at the corners.
One of the most famous objects within the treasure was the discovery of six upper and six lower halves of the "lorica segmentata" armor. While not identical, these pieces may have comprised three whole cuirasses or elements of twelve partial sets. This find was instrumental in helping researchers like Charles Daniels and H. Russell Robinson understand how this type of armor should be reconstructed. Before this discovery, people knew that segmented armor existed, but they did not fully understand how it was assembled or manufactured.
In addition to the armor, the Corbridge Treasure contained bundles of spearheads still bound with rope, artillery bolts, a sword scabbard, various tools and implements (including a block pulley and a Crusie lamp), objects related to carpentry, such as nails and carpentry dogs, and a small wooden bucket or mug. Among the more unusual finds were fragmentary remnants of feathers (possibly cushion padding or helmet plumes), wax tablets for writing, and fragments of papyrus. These organic components and the leather-clad box itself were preserved through mineralization caused by the rusting of the iron and steel contents.
The interpretation of the Corbridge Treasure has varied over time, but it is often seen as material that was hastily concealed, possibly in response to a barbarian attack or some other threat during its historical context in the Roman period.
