PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES AND TREASURE ANNUAL REPORT 2007 REPORT ANNUAL TREASURE AND ANTIQUITIES PORTABLE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES AND TREASURE ANNUAL REPORT 2007 The Vale of York Hoard (no. 217) The Vale of York Hoard (no. 217) In 2009, the Vale of York Hoard was In 2007, a Viking Age silver-gilt vessel upon jointly acquired by the British containing gold, hack-silver and 617 Museum and York Museums Trust. coins was found by metal-detectorists. Conservators at the British Museum The finders resisted the temptation have now cleaned the vessel and to empty the contents of the vessel, its contents, enabling the find to allowing the hoard to be excavated be viewed in the condition it was by British Museum conservators, deposited in c. AD 928. preserving valuable information about the find and its disposition. PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES AND TREASURE ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Foreword 4 Preface 6 Key points 8 Introduction 11 Learning and outreach 14 Research and publication 26 Catalogue Artefacts Stone Age 36 Bronze Age 40 Iron Age 59 Roman 71 Early Medieval 93 Medieval 119 Post-Medieval 142 Coins Iron Age 168 Roman 175 Early Medieval 195 Medieval 199 Post-Medieval 212 References 218 Indexes Table of Treasure cases 2007 230 Update on 2005 and 2006 Treasure cases 252 Index by findspot 253 Index by acquiring museum 259 Recording finds 262 Contacts and organisations 282 Illustrations 285 TREASURE ACT 1996 Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 12 of the Treasure Act 1996 Published by the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure, British Museum ISBN 978-0-9563795-0-4 paperback ISBN 978-0-9563795-1-1 download CONTENTS 2 3 It gives me great pleasure to introduce the first ever advise people on their legal obligations, inform them joint Portable Antiquities Scheme and Treasure Annual about the Treasure process, courier finds, and write Report. This outlines the Scheme’s work; explains the reports on them. It is this work which has produced an Treasure process and highlights some of the finds made almost 194% increase in the reporting of Treasure since in 2007. 2003 when the Scheme was extended to cover all of England and Wales. In previous years these reports were published separately but when the British Museum, which The work of the Scheme is supported by the manages the Scheme on behalf of the Museums, Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at Libraries & Archives Council, took over the the British Museum, the 33 local partners that host administration of Treasure and the Treasure Valuation Finds Liaison Officer posts, and the Portable Antiquities Committee in March 2007 they decided to combine Advisory Group, which is now supplemented by the them. This also recognises the fact that the distinction Portable Antiquities Management Group. In addition, between Treasure and other archaeological finds is the Finds Liaison Officers, and the Scheme more primarily a legal one and does not necessarily relate generally, are supported by museum curators and to their archaeological value. others associated with the heritage sector in England and Wales. In 2007, a further 66,311 archaeological finds were recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and This network of support is a testament to the success another 747 Treasure finds were reported. More than of the Scheme and it is, therefore, no surprise that Kate a third of the latter will be acquired by museums Clark’s Review of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which for public benefit. But, possibly more importantly, was commissioned by the MLA and the British Museum the reporting and recording of all archaeological in 2008, found it to be both effective and efficient. finds through the Scheme and under the Treasure Act will help archaeologists and other researchers to Finally, I would like to commend the British Museum’s understand the past better, how and where people Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure for lived, what they made and what they did. its monitoring of eBay to look for items of unreported Treasure. The Government takes this offence very We owe a huge debt of thanks to the people who seriously indeed and will continue to work closely with volunteered their finds for recording under the Scheme all interested parties to make vendors aware of the or reporting under the Treasure Act. I would also like law, to ensure that the marketplace in antiquities is to pay tribute to the work done by the members of transparent and open, and, finally, to help people the Treasure Valuation Committee: Trevor Austin, Ian who come into possession of antiquities understand Carradice, John Cherry, Peter Clayton, Jack Ogden, their obligations. Tim Pestell, May Sinclair and their chairman, Norman Palmer. This could not be done without the support the Committee receives from a panel of expert advisers: Emily Barber (Bonhams), Mark Bowis (Christie’s), Peter Clayton (Seaby’s), James Ede (Charles Ede Ltd), Tom Eden (Morton and Eden), Richard Falkiner, James Margaret Hodge Morton (Morton and Eden), Judith Nugee (Christie’s), Minister for Culture Michael Sharp (Dix Noonan Webb), Peter Spencer and November 2009 Chantelle Waddingham (Bonhams). I would also like to thank the funding bodies that play such an essential part in the acquisition of Treasure finds by museums; in particular, the Art Fund, the V&A/ MLA Purchase Grant Fund, the Headley Museums Treasure Acquisition Scheme, the National Memorial Fund, and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Gratitude is also due to the 58 finders and landowners who waived their right to a reward in 2007 and allowed museums to acquire finds at no, or a very reduced, cost to the taxpayer. The Government recognises the fact that the Portable Antiquities Scheme plays a very valuable role in supporting the Treasure Act; its Finds Liaison Officers FOREWORD 4 5 The Museums, Libraries & Archives Council (MLA) Besides educating people about archaeology and finds, Looking to the future, both the MLA and the British and the British Museum have been key supporters of and giving people the opportunity to get involved, the Museum are committed to ensuring the PAS continues the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act data generated by the PAS has great research potential, to be a success and agreeing a way how best it can be (1996) since their inception, and therefore very much and indeed it is the case that many researchers are best supported and delivered, and in this respect we welcome the Minister’s kind words in her foreword. making use of it. 460 people currently have full access very much value the Government’s support to date. to PAS data for research purposes and five students The MLA and the British Museum jointly chair the are undertaking collaborative Arts and Humanities Portable Antiquities Advisory Group, a consortium of Research Board-funded PhDs analysing PAS data. The bodies that helps take the project forward, and we are results of this work are transforming our understanding extremely grateful to the members of that group who of the past, highlighting new sites and the relationships have worked hard to ensure the continuing success between peoples over time. All this data is made of the PAS, especially following the uncertainty after publicly available on the PAS website – wwww.finds. Roy Clare, Chief Executive Officer, Museums, Libraries the last Spending Review settlement. This success org.uk – which is currently being redeveloped to & Archives Council was highlighted by the 2008 Review of the Portable increase functionality and improve the user experience. Antiquities Scheme, which, as the Minister has said, shows that the PAS makes a valuable contribution The Minister has already highlighted the mutually to museums, as well as to the historic environment beneficial relationship between the PAS and the sector. It is in recognition of the overarching potential Treasure Act, and it is very welcome that museums are of the Scheme to impact on the work of museums and increasingly able to acquire Treasure finds, thanks to the their audiences, that following the 2008 Review it was generosity of the various funding bodies, and also due agreed to support the regional elements of the Scheme to increasing numbers of finders and landowners who Neil MacGregor, Director, British Museum through the MLA’s Renaissance programme, and to donate their share of a reward. The fact that museums form the Portable Antiquities Management Group. are able to acquire such finds not only enables the This aims to complement the work of the Advisory public to enjoy them, but it ensures the objects are Group, and explore synergies between the work of the available for future research. The PAS is currently Scheme and museums more generally, and in particular working with English Heritage to explore options for with other projects being delivered through MLA’s cataloguing collections of finds found before the PAS Renaissance programme. was established that finders are willing to donate to museums. This highlights the need for finders to make Since the PAS was established in 1997, the standards appropriate provision for their finds in the future, if it sets itself, and those that record with it, have risen. It they wish them to have maximum public benefit. is now common practice for finders of archaeological objects to have them properly recorded with the PAS Museums are increasingly acquiring non-Treasure or reported under the Treasure Act; the Code of Practice finds recorded by the PAS. Notable examples (all for Responsible Metal Detecting, which was endorsed Roman) acquired over the past few years include the by the main archaeological bodies and metal-detecting Staffordshire Moorlands pan (WMID-3FE965), a horse and landowner organisations, provides an agreed and rider figurine from Cambridgeshire (SF-99E3E4) statement on best practice. In the first year of the and the Winterton pan (NLM-F50443).