The Hoxne Hoard is one of Britain's unique archaeological finds, not only for its value but also for the way in which it was found.
Various sources claim that the Hoxne Hoard is the largest hoard of Roman treasure ever found in Britain. The treasure trove consists mainly of gold and silver coins, although other items such as tableware and jewelry have also been found.
How a collection of ancient treasures found makes it unique.
Hoxne's hoard consists mainly of coins. (CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images)
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On November 16, 1992, Eric Lawes was scouring a field in the Suffolk village of Hoxne, not for hidden treasure, but simply for a hammer that had been lost on land.
Lawes was scanning the area with his metal detector when he came across a small portion of the treasures in the Hoxne vault.
After unearthing some of the silver spoons and gold coins he found, he quickly reported that the find had been dug up correctly.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, Lawes received £1.75 million for his find, which he shared with the farmer who owned the land where the treasures were discovered.
While searching for a lost hammer with a metal detector, the man came across a much larger find. This discovery later became known as the Hoxne Hoard. (iStock)
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According to the World History Encyclopedia, the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service (SCCAS) arrived at the scene the very next day.
The gold and silver artifacts According to Ancient Origins, the Hoxne hoard piece weighs a total of about 60 pounds. According to the British Museum, where many of the items are on display today, the collection numbers approximately 15,000 Roman coins. The items were buried in the 5th century AD
According to the source, other unique finds include jewelry such as a chain, six necklaces, three finger rings and gold bracelets.
Many pieces of jewelry were found as part of the Hoxne hoard, including gold bracelets. (CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images)
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Although the Hoxne Hoard consists mainly of coins, one of the most famous treasures found was the “Empress” pepperpot. According to the British Museum, this pot was one of four recovered from the site. The pepper pot is intricately shaped and depicts a woman.
According to the British Museum, the treasure also included a number of tableware items, including a set of 19 spoons in good condition decorated with nautical motifs.
According to Ancient Origins, archaeologists believe the Hoxne Treasure was buried no later than 450 AD
By the end of the 4th century, the Western Roman Empire was in a state of uncertainty and Roman soldiers were leaving Britain, leaving the citizens to fend for themselves.
One of the most important finds of the Hoxne Hoard is the pepper pot shown above. (CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images)
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Although experts have offered various hypotheses as to why the treasure was buried, a common suggestion is that it was done for protection and that the owners' goal was to recollect their valuable items. In the case of the Hoxne Hoard, the owners never recovered the items.
Today, the Hoxne Treasure can be seen at the British Museum in London. The exhibition includes many coins, jewelry and tableware, as well as the Lawes hammer he was originally looking for when he came across a much more significant discovery.
