Trinity Hoard facts for kids
The Trinity Hoard is a fascinating collection of ancient objects. These items, mostly bronze axeheads, date back to the Bronze Age. They were discovered in Jersey in 2012.
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Discovering the Ancient Treasure
Imagine finding a hidden treasure! That's what happened in October 2012. A metal detectorist named Ken Rive found the Trinity Hoard. He was searching in the Parish of Trinity in northern Jersey. The objects were hidden about 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) underground. They were inside an old pottery container.
The First Clues
When Ken found the hoard, the pottery container was damaged. It was probably hit by a plough. This damage had freed two bronze axeheads. At first, these were the only items visible. A conservator from Jersey Heritage came to the site. They made sure the find was carefully handled before more digging began. The pot itself was about 30 centimeters wide. Other broken pottery pieces were also found nearby.
Uncovering More Secrets
After the initial discovery, the pot was taken for a special scan. An X-ray scanner at Jersey Airport was used. This scan revealed a big surprise! There were at least 21 more axeheads hidden inside the pot. This meant the hoard was much bigger than first thought.
What the Axeheads Are Made Of
Scientists wanted to know more about the axeheads. They used a special test called X-ray fluorescence. This test helps figure out what materials things are made from. It showed that the bronze in the axeheads had a lot of lead. Nearly 55% of the metal was lead!
This high lead content is very interesting. It would have made the axes too soft to be used for chopping wood or fighting. This suggests they were not everyday tools. Instead, they were likely "prestige objects." This means they were special items. They were collected to show how wealthy or important someone was.
Protecting the Hoard
After the scans, conservators carefully opened the pottery container. They found a total of 25 axeheads! These precious items are now cared for by Jersey Heritage. Experts from the British Museum also helped with their preservation. In December 2012, some of the hoard went on display. You can see them at the Jersey Museum.
Another Amazing Find
The discovery of the Trinity Hoard was exciting. It happened just a few months after another huge find in Jersey. This other discovery was called the Grouville Hoard. It included about 70,000 ancient Celtic coins. It also had beautiful gold and silver jewelry. Jersey seems to be a real treasure island for archaeologists!
