Thetford Hoard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thetford Hoard |
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22 finger rings from the Thetford Hoard
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| Material | gold, silver, gems, shale |
| Size | 33 silver spoons 3 silver strainers 22 gold finger rings 4 gold bracelets 4 necklace pendants 5 gold chain necklaces 2 pairs of necklace-clasps 1 gold amulet 1 unmounted engraved gem 1 emerald bead 3 glass beads 1 gold belt-buckle 1 shale cylindrical box |
| Period/culture | Romano-British |
| Discovered | Gallows Hill, near Thetford, Norfolk, November 1979 |
| Present location | British Museum |
| Identification | P&E 1981 0201 1-83 |
The Thetford Hoard is a special collection of ancient Roman treasures. It was found near Thetford in Norfolk, England, in November 1979. This amazing discovery is now kept safe at the British Museum for everyone to see.
The items in the hoard are from the mid- to late-4th century AD. This means they are about 1,600 to 1,700 years old! The collection includes many beautiful objects made of gold, silver, and precious stones.
What's Inside the Thetford Hoard?
The Thetford Hoard is full of interesting items. It shows us what kind of valuable things people owned a long time ago.
Here are some of the treasures found:
- 33 silver spoons
- 3 silver strainers (used for sifting things)
- 22 gold finger rings
- 4 gold bracelets
- 4 necklace pendants
- 5 gold chain necklaces
- 2 pairs of necklace-clasps
- A gold amulet (a charm worn for protection)
- An unmounted engraved gem (a gemstone with a design carved into it)
- 4 beads (one emerald and three made of glass)
- A gold belt-buckle decorated with a dancing satyr (a mythical creature)
- A small round box made from shale (a type of rock)
How the Hoard Was Found
The Thetford Hoard was discovered by someone using a metal detector. This happened in November 1979, on a piece of land that was being prepared for new buildings.
The person found the items quickly as it was getting dark. They did not tell the authorities about their discovery right away. Later, when archaeologists learned about the find, the land had already been built on. This made it impossible to properly dig and search the site.
Even though archaeologists couldn't study the exact spot where it was found, the Thetford Hoard is still a very important discovery. It teaches us a lot about life in Roman Britain. Some people believe there might have been even more items, like coins, that were part of the original treasure.
Images for kids
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This shale box was part of the hoard. It might have held some of the smaller items.
