More than 3,000 copper alloy Roman coins dating from the 3rd Century have been discovered in a pot buried in a field in Montgomery, Powys a few miles away from the Roman fort of Fforden. Nine hundred coins were pulled out of the ground by Adrian Simmons, a member of Welshpool's "Oldford Force Team metal detecting club" in June before he thought of reporting it. The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) "helped unearth the coins" according to the news report. That was nice of them.
The archaeologists read from their usual prepared text used on such occasions: Chris Martin, regional archaeologist at the trust, said: "We are very excited about this discovery and are very grateful to Mr Simmons for acting so responsibly". The Trust stuck for the usual patronising news titbit added that the discovery "had the potential to reveal more about Roman life in mid Wales in the late 3rd Century". More likely it will tell us more about the potential for CPAT to publish a coin hoard with all the details required by coiney researchers, like die link information and so on. This is apparently another of those complexes of finds ripped out of a barely-seen context from below plough level on an otherwise unthreatened site (tell me I am wrong CPAT). So what was the archaeological context of the burial of this hoard then? How can it begin to tell anyone anything about "life in the third century" without knowing that? Do we really need yet another Roman hoard of this type dug out from below ploughsoil? What are we going to do with them all? How many more groups of third century coins stuffed in pots in western Britain do we need and what for? When does the "information" obtained begin to repeat itself with every hoard we reward someone to take out of the archaeological record now? When are we going to see full publication of the thousands (literally) of such hoards we already have, courtesy of PAS' "partners" digging them all out of their burial contexts left right and centre without being asked? When will we be able to take stock of all the information the treasure Act has produced on Roman coins in the province in the third century, so we know when to stop? When will we decide it is time to leave some in the ground for future generations of scholars who may have entirely different questions from us that need to be addressed at the time of their extraction? When are we going to make the transition between "let them dig it all up now as fast as we can" and sustainable management of this resource, and what part will PAS play in that?As for the detectorist, pictured by the BBC for some reason with his dad Reg, that is presumably the proprietor of Adrian Simmons Coins & Antiques, Verlon Close, Montgomery, Powys ("Antiques, bricks, coins, construction products, furniture, tiles and more"). If the hoard is disclaimed, collectors might consider getting in touch with him, buying their batch and "documenting" bits of the hoard for the archies, or whatever they do with the coins they buy.
Source: '3,000 Roman 3rd Century coins found in Montgomery field', BBC News, 27 July 2011
hat tip to David Gill.
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UPDATE 28 Jul 2011: More information here: Kathryn Williams, 'Hoard of Roman coins found in Powys field', Western Mail, Jul 28 2011.
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4 comments:
Having come accross your blog today, I was surprised at the somewhat hysterical and intemperate tone of its attack on both Mr Adrian Simmons and the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT). The trust is a highly respected public body which has contributed much to archaeological and historical understanding in north and mid-Wales, and neither its reputation nor its very public endorsement of Mr Simmons's actions should be lightly impugned.
It appears that you are not in possession of all the facts relating to this case. An account in today's 'Western Mail'---Wales's leading newspaper---explicitly states that Mr Simmons contacted CPAT the morning after the discovery of his initial batch of coins, i.e. there was no delay in reporting the find. Further, your implication that no archaeological context for the burial of the hoard can be established is contradicted by the following extract from the 'Western Mail' article:
'Jeff Spencer, historic events records officer for CPAT, said: "We are very excited by the find and delighted to have seen it. We are also pleased that Adrian has been so happy to work with us and responsibly did the right thing by getting in touch with us. "These kind of finds only come up once in a generation. Although the find itself is important, it's also where it was found that is important." Mr Spencer said the pot's discovery could point to a larger farmstead based in the area during Roman times. "If we find any post-holes or ditches, it could possibly be the boundary to someone's farmstead," he said. "It increases the potential but doesn't always guarantee it."
It appears that you are adopting a fundamentalist and blinkered approach to this matter.
I should add that I am a resident of mid-Wales who is not a metal detectorist, who does not know Mr Simmons, and who does not have any formal association with CPAT.
Hi "Gruffydd" (that's not your real name is it? Your profile does not reveal who or what you are).
Now I really do not think you expect me to take what you have written with any seriousness. Do you?
"It appears that you are not in possession of all the facts relating to this episode".
Are you Gruffydd? From where?
According to the news report I was commenting upon, Mr Simmons pulled out NINE HUNDRED coins before reporting it, that's about 30% of the find isn't it? How many coins would you need to determine you might have a hoard? 15? 25? 36? 50? (Have a look at the treasure Act and see how many coins is a "hoard"). Why would you take 900 of them out of the ground? What for? I'd say that was at least 850 too many to be called "responsible". That's nine hundred coins that cannot be collected like the coins in the Frome Hoard were.
the following extract from the 'Western Mail' article... well, either you are blind, or I am. It says NOTHING about the actual archaeological context. Jeff Spencer (Wrexam Detecting Club's pal) merely says "if we find..." and speculates does he not? Not "we have found...". And who now pays for the excavation to "find" that unfound "farmstead"? You, Mr Gruffydd and the local taxpayers more like.
"I should add that I am a resident of mid-Wales who is ..." most likely going to be asked to fork out in the next few months to "keep this hoard in the region", so I am very surprised that you apparently paid not a half-second's attention to the main points I made about what this is all "for".
Go on, tell us your real name. If you are who you say you are - an uninterested bystander - you have no reason to hide your identity, do you? You express an opinion, and I cannot see why anyone not actually involved would not be prepared to sign their real name below it.
I am getting fed up with all these sock puppets who can't honestly say who they are and discuss something out in the open.
I put this stuff out under my own name and for my pains reportedly get insulted by name by your precious CPAT when they talk to metal detectorists and Women's Institute members. So the least you can do if you want to discuss what I say is just put your own name at the top of the post.
Well, it seems the "resident of mid Wales" wants to remain anonymous.
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