A hoard of jewellery
When many objects are found buried in the same place it is called a hoard. This hoard of coins, rings and gems is from Snettisham in Norfolk. All the objects were hidden inside the pot in the picture. They belonged to a jeweller who lived nearly 2,000 years ago.
Snettisham jeweller's hoard, Norfolk, buried around AD 155
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Boudica’s booty?
Boudica was the famous Queen of the Iceni tribe, who lived in the area we now call East Anglia. She led a fight against the Romans in AD 60-61. This hoard of 872 silver coins may have been hidden during that time to keep them from being taken by the Romans.
Hoard of Iceni silver coins, found in Cambridgeshire in 1982
Hiding the silver
These silver wine cups, found in 1962, are from Hockwold in Norfolk. They had been taken apart and crushed before they were buried, but were put back together after they were found. Two of the cups match and two don’t – can you spot the matching pair?
Silver drinking cups from Hockwold, Norfolk, late 1st century AD
Silverware found in a field
In 1942, two men working in a field in Suffolk found a hoard. They dug up 34 pieces of Roman silver – bowls, platters and spoons with pictures of gods and animals on them. The Mildenhall treasure is one of the most valuable finds from Roman Britain.
'The Great Dish' from the Mildenhall treasure, 4th century AD
The mystery of the missing treasure
This hoard, the Backworth treasure, includes jewellery and a silver pan. It was probably buried somewhere in north-east England as a gift to the gods. There may have been about 280 coins buried with the hoard but it arrived at the British Museum with only one!
Hoard from Backworth, Tyne and Wear, 1st-2nd century AD
The richest find
The Hoxne hoard, found in Hoxne, Suffolk, probably belonged to a wealthy family. There were about 15,000 gold and silver coins, as well as jewellery and tableware. We don't know why the owners never came back to collect it.
Coins from the Hoxne hoard, buried during 5th century AD
A young girl’s jewellery
This gold chain, part of the Hoxne hoard, was worn across the body by a young woman from a rich family. Where the chains meet at the back is a gold coin, and at the front there is a beautiful purple gemstone called an amethyst, with red garnets around it.
Gold body chain from the Hoxne hoard, found in 1992
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A bronze mask for mock battles
A Roman soldier buried this bronze helmet in a Roman fort at Ribchester in Lancashire. It was held on with a leather strap and worn in sports events and mock battles. There were also bowls, military awards and an amulet (good luck charm) in the hoard.
Helmet from Ribchester hoard, late 1st or early 2nd century AD
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