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Gold (and silver) diggers on the increase
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent19.11.08
ANGLO-SAXON jewellery, Roman coins and a medieval seal were among historic finds declared official treasure in a report today.
Almost 750 objects were reported last year under the government scheme which assesses any gold and silver finds - compared with 665 in 2006.
And 282 of the latest finds were deemed so important they were acquired by museums, several by the Museum of London.
Highlights of the 2007 Treasure Annual Report unveiled at the British Museum include a 7th century gold and garnet mount found with a metal-detector in Essex.
It has been bought by Chelmsford Museum for £3,000. The medieval silver seal was discovered by another detectorist in Swanley, Kent, and has been bought by the British Museum for £2,750.
The British Museum is also investigating 3,600 Roman coins and pottery from about AD347 found in Snodland, Kent.
Fourteen finds were made in the Greater London area, up from six in 2006. These included a 2nd century Roman silver ring and two sets of Anglo-Saxon grave finds, all excavated by the Museum of London Archaeology Service at sites including St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square.
The Government has been trying to encourage finders to give their discoveries to local museums and 44 did - up from 26 in 2006.
Reader views (1)
I imagine the government is pleased with the person who crafted the British law regarding "found treasure". It's the way it should be. Most detectorists simply enjoy our heritage and are seeking the thrill of finding an old item. In the end, the item is acquired by a museum and both the landowner and the treasure hunter are fairly compensated. So simple, yet if you compare this to the laws in the US regarding metal detecting, the UK is light years ahead. Please continue to publish news of these incredible finds... it would not happen in the States.
- W C Fields, Dacula, GA US
