Record Details

NHER Number:30049
Type of record:Monument
Name:Iron Age coin hoard, Early Saxon inhumation cemetery and multi-period finds

Summary

Metal-detecting between 1991 and 2004 recovered Iron Age, Roman, medieval and post-medieval coins, including an Iron Age hoard; medieval and post-medieval tokens; an Early Saxon glass bead and Bronze Age to post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include a Bronze Age spearhead tip, awl and copper alloy ring; a Late Bronze Age spearhead; an Iron Age mount, bracelet fragment and bracelet or torc terminal; Late Iron Age/Roman brooches; Roman brooches, pins, a finger ring, hook, hammer, nail cleaner, seal box lid and cosmetic pestle; Early Saxon brooches, Frankish shield mounts, wrist clasps, an iron spearhead, scabbard chape, gusset plate, girdle hanger, buckle, box mount and belt plate; a Middle Saxon gold bead, pin and brooch; Late Saxon bridle cheekpiece fragments, a bell and strap-end; medieval to post-medieval dress accessories; medieval horse harness pendants, a finger ring, side of a spur, ampulla, brooch, brooch pin, sword chape, key, furniture fitting, and possible chafing dish handle; a medieval/post-medieval finger ring, book clasp, stud and knife handle end-cap and a post-medieval toy cannon, tweezers, book clasp, furniture fitting, rivet, mount, seed-drill scoop and sword belt mount.
The Iron Age hoard consisted of silver, gold and copper alloy coins as well as metal-working debris and included a very rare example of a coin of Prasutagus. The hoard along with other Iron Age objects and Roman finds found scattered over a wider area, suggesting that this site was continuously occupied from the Iron Age into the Roman period. The very large number and type of Early Saxon objects recovered suggest that the site was used as an inhumation cemetery during the Early Saxon period.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TF60NE
Parish:FINCHAM, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

1991. Metal detecting.
Four Early Saxon brooch fragments.
W. Milligan (NCM) 27 May 1997.

1992 to 1996. Metal detecting.
Bronze Age spearhead, (S3).
Iron Age coins and bracelet (S4).
Roman metalwork and coins in quantity.
Early Saxon metalwork, including a number of Frankish shield mounts (S5) and (S6) and many brooches (S7), (S8), (S9) and (S10).
Middle Saxon and Late Saxon metalwork.
Much medieval metalwork and coins, a little post medieval.
See full details, drawings, polaroids, lists, etc. in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 27 October 1997.

1993. Found with metal detecting.
Iron Age bracelet.
Roman coins.
Early Saxon brooches (S11), (S12) and (S13).
Medieval coins and metalwork (S14).
Iron Age coin hoard.
See full lists and copies of polaroids in file.
W. Milligan (NCM) July 1993.

1994. Metal detecting finds.
Hoard coins: Iron Age pattern/horse; Iron Age face/horse; Iron Age boar/horse.
Roman coin.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 10 April 1995.
Early Saxon Style I scabbard chape for knife. 7th century, (S15 and S16).
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM) 1995.
Medieval ring brooch pin, 14th century, broken loop, moulded ribbed collar.
Post medieval toy canon.
Early Saxon wrist clasp with moulded ribbed inner bar, and openwork plate, (S17).
Early Saxon brooch, small-long, broken edge, stamped annulets on head-plate. Moulded bow and moulding on foot plate. Double H-shaped lug on reverse and broken catchplate (S18 and S19).
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM) 1994.
Roman finger ring, (S20).
W. Milligan (NCM) 14 March 1994.

April 1994. Metal detecting find from Context 2.
Silver Hod Hill brooch 43 to 65/70AD. With bronze pin and iron 'spring'.
Identified by D. Mackreth 1994.
?Bronze Age leaded copper alloy ring (S21).
Bronze Age spear tip (S22).
Roman sestertius.
Iron Age stater.
See list in file.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 10 and 16 April 1995.
Hoard material. 2 silver droplets (Iron Age).
W. Milligan (NCM) 4 May 1994.

1994. Metal detecting finds.
Iron Age pattern/horse.
Silver droplet, Iron Age.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 10 April 1995.
W. Milligan (NCM) 13 June 1995.

April 1994. Metal detecting finds from Context 2.
Gold solidus.
See list in file.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 10 April 1995.
Colchester brooch, 1st century, 40/50AD.
Identified by D. Mackreth 1994.
W. Milligan (NCM) 8 September 1994.

1994. Metal detecting finds. Context 1.
Hoard coins: 10 Iron Age silver coins. 1 Iron Age copper alloy coin.
See list in file. Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 26 April 1995.
Roman cosmetic pestle.
14th century ring brooch, simplest type, with pin looped round ring.
Medieval finger ring, empty oval setting in bezel. Edge of 'collet' decoration with pairs of lines.
Identified S. Margeson (NCM) 1995.
W. Milligan (NCM) 16 December 1994.

1995. Metal detecting find.
Penannular brooch (?BC) 1 to 75 humped pin, early.
W. Milligan (NCM) 22 May 1997.

1995. Metal detecting finds. Context 1.
Iron Age gold stater.
11 Iron Age hoard coins.
See list in file.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 20 November 1995.
Medieval horse harness pendant, Arms of England. Blazon: Gules three lions passant guardant[or].
See (S23) and identified by S. Ashley (NAU) February 1996.
W. Milligan (NCM) 21 November 1995.

1996. Metal detecting find. Context 1.
Republican denarius.
See list in file.
W. Milligan (NCM) 19 May 1997.

1997. Metal detecting.
Three 2nd to 4th century coins.
Medieval 1d and post medieval 1/4d token.
See lists in file.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 10 March 1997.
Roman pin head.
6th/7th century box mount and belt plate.
7th century filigree decorated gold bead.
6th century gilt copper alloy gusset plate (S24).
5/6th century small long fragment.
5/7th century buckle.
6 fragments of 5/6th century cruciform brooches.
See polaroids and lists in file.
Identified by H. M. Geake (A&E)
W. Milligan (NCM) 27 May 1997

1998. Metal detecting. C. Sproule and C. Merchant (ENF 89314).
Bronze Age (S25), Iron Age, Roman, Early Saxon (S26), Middle Saxon, medieval, early post-medieval metalwork.
Including an Iron Age mount (see Polariod and Drawings (S28) and (S29)) and Early Saxon mount (S27).
See list in file.
Identified by H. M. Geake (A&E 1998).
The Early Saxon finds from this site are clearly indicative of an inhumation cemtery.
K. Sussams, (NCM) 13 May 1999. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 10 February 2020.

Before December 1998. Metal-detecting.
Roman seal box lid.
Early Saxon brooches and glass bead.
Early/Middle Saxon brooch.
Medieval/early post-medieval finger-ring and shield-shaped stud.
See lists in file.
A. Beckham (HES), 13 February 2020.

Week before 19 November 1999. Metal detecting.
10 Iron Age silver coins (hoard batch 6). (And 2 Roman barbarus radiate coin).
Disclaimed as treasure February 2000.
See treasure receipt for list of coins.

2000. Metal detecting.
1 Iron Age gold coin.
10 Iron Age silver coins.
1 gold droplet.
(Hoard batch 7).
Declared treaure 31 May 2001.
See copy of treasure receipt for list of coins.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 May 2001.

Before 15 December 2000. Metal detecting.
2 Roman coins.
Roman nail cleaner.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 13 July 2001.

Before 22 November 2001. Metal detecting.
Hoard batch 8.
22 more Iceni silver coins from hoard. Includes boar/horse half unit with new dies.
(Declared Treasure 20 August 2002).
See list in file.
Also recorded on PAS database [1].
A. Rogerson (NLA), 13 March 2002. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 2 May 2020.

Before 12 May 2003. Metal detecting.
21 Iron Age coins.
See list in file.
BATCH 9 of Iron Age coin hoard.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 28 May 2003.

21 Iron Age coins found before 12 May (Batch 9) and 13 Iron Age coins found before 21 January 2004 (Batch 10) declared Treasure at King's Lynn 26 May 2004.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 26, May 2004.

5 Iron Age coins found end April 2004. Batch 11.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 26 May 2004.

39 Iron Age coins found between 2003 and 2004 (Batches 9-11) were acquired by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2005.776).
P. Watkins (HES), 8 May 2020.

Before 17 May 2004. Metal detecting.
Five more Iron Age coins from hoard.
Early Saxon gilt mount.
Late Saxon strap end.
Medieval furniture fitting found using a metal detector before 17 May 2004.
E. Darch (NLA), 16 September 2004.

Five Iron Age coins declared Treasure 15 July 2004.
E. Darch (NLA), 4 November 2004.

Before 21 December 2004. Metal detecting.
Four Roman coins.
See description in file by A. Marsden (NLA).
E. Darch (NLA), 4 February 2005.

Ten silver units found 10 December 2004 declared Treasure 21 September 2005.
E. Darch (NLA), 22 September 2005.

September/October 2005. Metal-detecting.
A further seventeen silver units discovered, all additions to hoard first discovered in 1999 (batch 12 or 13).
Declared Treasure 25 May 2006 and subsequently acquired by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2007.78).
See report (S2) in file.
E. Darch (NLA), 6 February and 1 June 2006. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2020.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
  • FINDSPOT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • INHUMATION CEMETERY (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
  • AWL (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • RING (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • SPEARHEAD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • BRACELET (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN HOARD (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HAMMER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HARNESS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NAIL CLEANER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PESTLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SEAL BOX (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BEAD (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 410 AD to 850 AD)
  • BEAD (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BOW BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BOX (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • DRESS FASTENER (UNKNOWN) (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • HAMMER (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SHIELD (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BEAD (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • BROOCH (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • BELL (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BOX (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • DRESS COMPONENT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • HARNESS (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STRAP END (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • AMPULLA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval to 16th Century - 1066 AD to 1600 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KNIFE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SPUR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STUD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • TOKEN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • DRESS COMPONENT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STUD (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SWORD (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TWEEZERS (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2006. Treasure Annual Report 2004. pp 168-169; Nos 416 and 417.
---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport and British Museum. 2008. Treasure Annual Report 2005/6. p 187; No 1054.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Photograph: NCC Find Identification and Recording Service. c. 1975-2000. HES Find Polaroid Collection. HES Find Polaroid Collection. polaroid. black and white.
---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2000. Treasure Annual Report 1998-1999. pp 105-107; Nos 276 and 277; Figs 276 and 277.
---Monograph: Ashley, S. 2002. Medieval Armorial Horse Furniture in Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 101.
---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2001. Treasure Annual Report 2000. p 109; No 235.
---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2002. Treasure Annual Report 2001. p 91; No 180.
---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 1999. Treasure Annual Report 1997–98. No 116.
---Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1997. Five historic West Norfolk finds declared treasure trove. 4 March.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1995. Hoard of coins declared treasure trove. 15 December.
---Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1993. Iceni treasure reveals Downham details of almost 2000 years ago. 19 November.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1993. The search that ended in treasure. 16 November.
---Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 2002. 22 Iron Age coins uncovered in field. 27 August.
---Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1995. Inquests into 2,000-yr-old W Norfolk coins find. 15 December.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Illustration: Ashley, S.. Unknown. Drawing of a medieval horse harness rotating banner.. Film. 2:1.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
<S1>Unpublished Document: Davies, J.. 1995. Coins discovered at a site in South West Norfolk 1994 - 95.
<S2>Unpublished Document: Leins, I.. 2006. 2005 T454 Fincham, Norfolk (Addenda 14), Report to H M Coroner.
<S3>Illustration: Unknown. 1993. Drawing of a Bronze Age spearhead tip.. Paper. 2:1.
<S4>Illustration: Holness, A.. 1996. Drawing of an Iron Age bracelet.. Paper. 1:1.
<S5>Illustration: Jenkins, T.. 1994. Drawing of an Early Saxon bird shield mount.. Paper. 1:1.
<S6>Illustration: Holness, A.. 1996. Drawing of an Early Saxon shield mount fragment.. Paper. 1:1.
<S7>Illustration: Holness, A.. 1996. Drawing of an Early Saxon cruciform brooch.. Paper. 1:1.
<S8>Illustration: Holness, A.. 1996. Drawing of an Early Saxon small long brooch.. Paper. 1:1.
<S9>Illustration: Holness, A.. 1996. Drawing of an Early Saxon cruciform brooch.. Paper. 1:1.
<S10>Illustration: Holness, A.. 1996. Drawing of an Early Saxon small long brooch.. Paper. 1:1.
<S11>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1993. Drawing of an Early Saxon face mask from the foot plate of a cruciform brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S12>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1993. Drawing of an Early Saxon Head and bow of a small long brooch. Film. 2:1.
<S13>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1993. Drawing of an Early Saxon small long brooch fragment.. Film. 2:1.
<S14>Illustration: Ashley, S.. 1994. Drawing of a medieval horse harness pendant.. Film. 2:1.
<S15>Illustration: Daynes, C.A.. 1994. Drawing of a 7th century scabbard chape for a knife. Paper. 1:1.
<S16>Illustration: White, S.. 1994. Drawing of a medieval scabbard chape.. Film. Unknown.
<S17>Illustration: Banks, S.. 1994. Drawing of an Early Saxon wrist clasp.. Paper. 1:1.
<S18>Illustration: Birdsall, J.. 1994. Drawing of an Early Saxon small-long brooch.. Paper. 1:1.
<S19>Illustration: Banks, S.. 1994. Drawing of an Early Saxon small-long brooch.. Paper. 1:1.
<S20>Illustration: Cannell, E.. 1994. Drawing of a Roman finger ring.. Paper. 1:1.
<S21>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1994. Drawing of a Bronze Age leaded copper alloy ring.. Paper. 1:1.
<S22>Illustration: O'Attoma, A. 1994. Drawing of a Bronze Age spear tip.. Paper. 1:1.
<S23>Illustration: Ashley, S.. 1994. Drawing of a medieval horse harness pendant.. Film. 2:1.
<S24>Illustration: Holness, A. 1997. Drawing of an Early Saxon gusset plate.. Paper. 1:1.
<S25>Illustration: Kercher, J.. 1998. Drawing of a Bronze Age awl.. Card. 1:1.
<S26>Illustration: Holness, A. 1998. Drawing of an Early Saxon object fragment.. Paper. 1:1.
<S27>Illustration: Holness, A.. 1998. Drawing of an Early Saxon oval mount.. Paper. 1:1.
<S28>Illustration: Holness, A.. 1998. Drawing of an Iron Age copper alloy mount.. Paper. 1:1.
<S29>Illustration: Kercher, J.. 1998. Drawing of an Iron Age copper alloy mount.. Paper. 1:1.

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