Roman Hack Silver Hoard

This amazingly rare hoard containing 9 pieces of sheet silver from at least three vessels and an incomplete solid silver hair pin, was found during excavations just outside the Fort in 1954.

The hoard was buried outside Great Casterton, beside one of towns wall’s projecting bastions. This spot might have been chosen because the tower provided an obstacle to hide behind whilst burying the hoard, and a landmark to help locate it, when the owner wanted to recover it.

The hoard was buried in the late fourth- or early fifth-century AD,  a time of crisis across the empire, as barbarians crossed the frontiers and ransacked towns and cities. Some of the pieces in the hoard were centuries old when they were buried. Its owner, faced with such a perilous situation, may have felt it was better to cut up their heirlooms to use as currency. The hoard was never recovered and we can only guess what fate befell its owner.

This is a true ‘hoard’ under the old laws of ‘Treasure Trove’ – a collection of objects made of [precious metal that have been hidden for safe keeping. It has very few parallels in Britain, the most obvious one being the spectacular Traprain Law Treasure from Scotland, which contains many pieces of silver plate as well whole artefacts.

The objects are part of the Oakham School Collection and are on temporary display at Rutland County Museum

For more info on the Treasure Act to go  finds.org.uk/treasure