Wylye Hoard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wylye Hoard |
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Two views of a bracelet from the hoard, in as-found condition
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| Material | Copper |
| Size | 41 items |
| Discovered | 2012 |
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The Wylye Hoard is a special collection of Bronze Age jewelry. It was found by people using metal detectors in a field near Wylye, Wiltshire, England, in 2012. In 2014, this amazing find was officially called 'treasure' because of a law called the Treasure Act 1996.
Contents
How the Treasure Was Found
Stuart Gullick and Michael Barker found the hoard on November 4, 2012. They are part of a metal-detecting group called "West London Archaeological Searchers." They found the treasure on a hilltop, not far from the River Wylye.
What's in the Hoard?
The Wylye Hoard has 41 objects made from a mix of metals, mostly copper. These items were found in two main spots very close to each other. A few other pieces were found nearby.
All the objects are from the same time period. This means they likely belong together as one big hoard. The collection includes:
- 31 pieces of jewelry, like bracelets or necklaces
- 8 tools
- 4 other objects that are not yet fully identified
The people who found the hoard dug up the items from two spots. These spots were only about 2 to 3 meters apart. Later, an archaeology group found two small pits where the items had been placed.
In one pit, the objects seemed to have been carefully put away. The finders said that some of the neck rings, called torcs, were stacked neatly on top of each other. The second group of objects was spread out a bit more. This might be because farm work had moved them around over time.
Becoming Official Treasure
In February 2014, a special meeting was held in Salisbury. At this meeting, the Wylye Hoard was officially declared 'treasure.' This means it is very important to the history of England.
After this, a group called the Treasure Valuation Committee decided how much the hoard was worth. Then, the Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum bought the hoard. This museum is now known as The Salisbury Museum.
Looking for More Clues
After the hoard was found, archaeologists wanted to learn more. The Wiltshire Archaeology Field Group dug up the site where the hoard was discovered. They looked for more objects or clues. However, they did not find any more items during this dig.
