Dog walkers and metal
detectorists help archaeologists to record 1,000 finds in Yorkshire.
The 1,000th officially
recorded archaeological find of the year in Yorkshire is a 2,000-year-old
figurine of the Roman god. It was found
by Dave Cooper while he was metal detecting in a field near Selby, and is a
remarkable reminder of Roman times.
“It honestly was pure
coincidence – but a very happy one,” says Rebecca Griffiths, the Finds Liaison
Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme at the York Museums Trust.
“Mercury was the god of
commerce and so merchants would sprinkle their heads and merchandise with water
from Mercury’s well, near the Porta Capena, to appeal to the god for luck in
their endeavours.”
The museum is used to
receiving items from the public, even when the timing is less curious. The
Bedale Hoard, the Escrick Ring and the silver Stillingfleet boar badge of
Richard III are already on display thanks to the vigilance of members of the
public.
“Every year thousands of
archaeological objects are discovered,” says Griffiths. “While the majority of
these come from metal-detector users, we also see many finds from people
field-walking, gardening, renovating houses and even those out walking
particularly inquisitive dogs.
“Due to the quantity and
quality of these finds it was realised that, if properly recorded, these
discoveries could provide an important source of material with the potential to
transform our understanding of the past.
“Each year I, and a
small team of volunteers, add more than 2,000 new artefacts to the database.
These range from Roman coins to medieval buckles, stone tools to post-medieval
toys and pretty much everything in-between.”
The figurine is yet to
join a museum collection.
Public Finds Days will
be held by the PAS at Hull and East Riding Museum (July 31, September 25 and
November 27, 11am-1pm) and the Yorkshire Museum (June 5, August 7, October 2,
December 4, 10am-1pm).
Call me to discuss your
insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983
No comments:
Post a Comment