2,000-year-old treasure found by metal detectors in England | Archaeology

Metal detectors found 15 gold coins in an open field on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. The findings, they were official Declared treasure Well-preserved, the Welsh Government last Wednesday (9) represents the first Iron Age coin to be found in the region.

This type of coin, called the stater, was also in circulation in ancient Greece. Highly stylized, these pieces are derived from Macedonian gold coins of Philip II, who served as king of ancient Macedonia, and feature a bust of the Greek god Apollo wearing a floral wreath on one side (the “face”) and a two-horse chariot on the other (the “crown”).

Lloyd Roberts, Peter Cockton and Tim Watson, three archaeologists, have been tasked with finding the coins between July 2021 and March 2022. In Press release, describing how they felt “shock, joy and surprise” when confronted with the findings. “Finding a golden stater has always been at the top of my bucket list. But I didn’t really expect to find one; much less on Anglesey,” says Roberts.

After the discovery of the coins was made public, the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, an organization that provides archaeological advisory services to the government, visited the site to see if there were any archaeological features on the surface. The hope is to find clues as to why the coins were buried; However, the mission failed.

“This hoard is a fantastic example of the rich archaeological landscape that exists in north-west Wales,” explains Sean Derby, the institute’s archaeologist. “Although there are no clues as to the origin of the find in the immediate vicinity of the find, the site is in an area known for prehistoric and Roman activity and helps increase our understanding of the region.”

The Portable Antiquities Project, run by the British Museum and the Museum of Wales, estimates that the coins were minted between 60 and 20 BC, possibly at three different mints in what is now the English county of Lincolnshire.

The coins may have been buried by the Korieltawi tribe who occupied the area during the Late Iron Age. The communities living in Wales did not create their own coins and rarely used money from other tribes. That’s why these discoveries are so rare.

Researchers believe that the coins were not used for day-to-day transactions like the coins we use today. Instead, experts say they were treated as offerings to the gods and gifts among elites to secure alliances or loyalty.

Commerce, politics and religion were inextricably linked in the Iron Age. Therefore, the treasure found in Wales may have been buried for one or more reasons. Pagan priests mention Anglesey as an important religious center in Roman sources, which may suggest the ritual use of coins. Another possibility pointed out by the researchers is that Korieldavi turned these pieces into copper.

“This local find is exciting news. The coins are of national importance and we are delighted to acquire them for the Anglesey Museum collection and display them to the public,” said Ian Jones, Collections Manager at Oriel Mon Museum.