English Farmer Comes Across Surprising Discovery While Hunting for Lost Hammer

In 1992, a farmer in England lost his hammer and asked his friend to help him find it with a metal detector. Little did they know, this search would lead to the most significant Roman treasure ever found in Britain. The field yielded 15,000 coins and a substantial amount of gold, worth millions of dollars.

A farmer named Peter Whatling was digging on his property in eastern England when he suddenly lost his hammer in the dirt. Not knowing what to do, he reached out to his friend and neighbor Eric Lawes for help. Little did he know, this simple act of friendship would lead to a historic discovery.

Eric Lawes was a gardener in Hoxne, Suffolk who had recently retired. He was gifted a metal detector, which he enjoyed using to help out friends. When he received a call about a lost hammer, he eagerly set out with his detector to help find it.

Lawes couldn’t find the hammer, but what he uncovered was much better. While digging, he found several silver spoons and some ancient gold coins. And that’s not all! He also uncovered some beautiful pieces of gold jewelry. Lawes was overjoyed and filled two grocery bags with his treasures.

Lawes stumbled upon something truly special and instead of keeping it all to himself, he reached out to some experts. He knew that his discovery had some historical value and wanted to make sure it was handled properly.

The Suffolk Archaeological Unit, led by Jude Plouvier, paid a visit to the site the next day. These archaeologists, armed with metal detectors, were on a mission to safely remove the treasure from its dirt-covered resting place.

Lawes had made quite the discovery when he stumbled upon a treasure trove. But, it turns out, he was only scratching the surface. The main bulk of the hoard was found in a large oak chest, with smaller boxes filled to the brim with precious metal objects.

Among the 40 treasure hoards discovered in Britain, the Hoxne Hoard stands tall as the largest one ever found. According to researcher Rachel Wilkinson, it’s also the biggest Roman treasure discovery to date.

Lawes was richly rewarded for reporting the treasure. The Treasure Valuation Committee evaluated the worth of the treasure to be £1.75 million ($2.43 million) in 1993 and that’s exactly what Lawes got. He kindly shared the reward with Whatling.

Rome was facing a difficult period in 450 AD under Emperor Theodosius. Christianity became the only accepted religion, causing conflict within the empire as many still followed polytheistic beliefs. Meanwhile, various civilizations were invading, particularly in Britain.

The “hoards equal hordes” hypothesis emerged as raiders from Scotland and Ireland invaded Britain. Historians suggest that the invasion made the British so scared of future attacks that they buried their valuables to protect them.

The Hoxne Hoard is a mystery that has yet to be solved, but we have a few clues to go on. One of the items in the hoard, a golden bracelet, is inscribed with “Use this happily Lady Juliane” in Latin. Another artifact bears the name “Aurelius Ursicinus.”

According to Roman archaeologist Peter Guest, the Hoxne Hoard may hold clues about the decline of Rome’s control over Britain. The practice of “clipping” coins was a common way for the Brits to assert their independence from Rome. By reducing the size of Roman coins by about a third, they effectively created a new, local currency.

The Hoxne Hoard was a big deal when it was found, and people were talking about it everywhere. The Sun even ran a fun competition to encourage people to learn more about history. They offered a free metal detector to the first person who could correctly answer the question “Who built Hadrian’s Wall?”

The discovery of the Hoxne Hoard caused a stir and many people took to metal detecting in the area, despite it being illegal. But in 1994, the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service got wind of the treasure hunting and decided to take action.

In 1994, a team of archaeologists dug deeper into the Hoxne Hoard discovery site and uncovered an extra 335 treasures from the Roman Empire. The 11,000 square feet excavation revealed a plethora of coins, as well as some box fittings.

The Hoxne Hoard was a tricky puzzle for historians to piece together. With limited organic materials in the treasure, they were unable to use radiocarbon dating to determine its age. To get around this, they relied on the inscriptions on the coins to give them a rough idea of when the treasure was buried.

Not only does the Hoxne Hoard include coins, but it also boasts 29 pieces of gorgeous gold jewelry. These pieces include everything from rings to necklaces, with styles suitable for both men and women. The jewelry is made of the finest 91% gold or 22-carat gold, and some pieces feature silver and copper designs.

The Hoxne Hoard was declared a treasure trove by a Coroner’s inquest in 1993. Treasure troves are usually hoards that were buried to be recovered later. Although there’s no legal obligation to reward the discoverer, the Crown usually does so with an amount equal to the value of the treasure.

The Hoxne Hoard was a treasure trove of ancient artifacts, but one of its most prized possessions is the Empress Pepper Pot. This silver and gilded spice shaker is shaped like a woman and is thought to have been used to dispense peppercorns and other spices.

The Hoxne Hoard was hidden far from civilization, but historians have a pretty good idea of where the person who buried it lived. Old maps and records point towards Scole, a small settlement located two miles away from Hoxne and situated at the crossroads of two roads.

According to some, the treasure might have come from the Villa Faustini. This villa was mentioned in an ancient record called the Antonine Itinerary, which was created for the first Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus. The theory goes that engravings on the spoons that read “Faustinus” might be a clue about the villa’s existence.

The Hoxne Hoard was not only comprised of coins and jewelry, but also some organic items. From bones of animals to pieces of wood, the hoard had a mix of different materials. It’s uncertain if the bones were placed there deliberately.

In their investigation of the Hoxne Hoard, archaeologists employed X-ray fluorescence to shed light on the composition of the metal, ceramic, and glass objects. To their surprise, the results revealed that some pieces had undergone repair using an unusual material – mercury!

To the archeologists’ amazement, the Hoxne Hoard featured one of the earliest known examples of jeweler’s rouge, a mixture used to polish metals. The magic ingredient? Iron oxide, also known as rust.

The Hoxne Hoard is an exciting discovery of old Roman-era treasures, featuring a range of everyday items from spoons to toiletry items. But some big pieces seem to be missing from the hoard. Archaeologists have a theory about what could have happened to them.

The Hoxne Hoard was a turning point in the relationship between metal detectorists and archaeologists. Eric Lawes’ decision to hand over the treasure to authorities, intact and unaltered, helped earn the trust of archaeologists. The Treasure Act of 1996 made it easier for everyday people to turn in their findings and receive a reward, while media attention on the Hoxne Hoard sparked interest in metal detecting.