Dairsie Hoard facts for kids
The Dairsie Hoard is a special collection of ancient Roman silver. It was found in 2014 near Dairsie, Fife, Scotland. A teenage boy named David Hall discovered it during a metal-detecting event. This amazing find includes more than 300 pieces of silver, some of which are parts of old silver bowls or plates.
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What is the Dairsie Hoard?
The Dairsie Hoard is a "hoard," which means a hidden collection of valuable items. This particular hoard is made of something called "hacksilver." Hacksilver is silver that has been cut into pieces. People in ancient times often cut up silver items like plates or cups so they could use the pieces as money or for trading.
This silver treasure dates back to the late 3rd century, which is about 1,700 years ago! It tells us a lot about the Romans and the people who lived in Scotland at that time.
A Lucky Discovery
The Dairsie Hoard was found by David Hall, who was a teenager at the time. He was using a metal detector at a special rally in 2014. Metal detectors help people find metal objects hidden underground. David's discovery was very exciting because it's rare to find such a large and old collection of silver.
What Was Found?
The hoard contains over 300 pieces of silver. Many of these pieces are fragments, meaning they are broken parts of larger objects. Experts have identified parts of at least four different silver vessels, like bowls or dishes. Because the silver was cut up, it's called hacksilver. This suggests it might have been used for trade or as a way to carry wealth.
Displaying the Treasure
After it was found, the Dairsie Hoard was studied by experts. Then, it was put on display for everyone to see at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. You could see it there between October 2017 and February 2018. It was a chance for people to connect with a piece of ancient history.
Why Was It Buried?
Historians and archaeologists often wonder why hoards like this were buried. Fraser Hunter, a main curator at National Museums Scotland, has a theory about the Dairsie Hoard. He thinks the hacksilver might have been a gift or a payment from the Roman army to local Pictish tribes. The Picts were ancient people who lived in Scotland. The Romans might have given them silver to keep peace or to form alliances.
