Rediscovering Thetford Treasure: Archaeologists Explore 1,500-Year-Old Gold Jewelry and Silver Spoons

The treasure jewels discovered in Tetford Forest, East Anglia, indicate that Tetford maintained pagan practices until the 5th century A.D.

The Thetford treasure was unearthed in 1979 by a metal detectorist trespassing at a construction site on Fison’s Way, Gallows Hill, Thetford.

This treasure comprised 81 items, including 22 gold rings, various gold gems, and 36 silver spoons or strainers.

Several gems were found alongside the shalebox, with additional objects nearby.

The retrieved items included coins, presenting researchers with dating challenges.

The collection is now part of the British Museum and is currently on display.

Professor Ellen Swift, an archaeologist from the University of Kent, remarked:

“The extensive evidence uncovered at this site substantiates the religious context previously indicated by inscriptions found among the spoons in the reservoir, suggesting that the dating of the Thetford reservoir extends into the fifth century.”

“The economic significance of the site—evidenced by the value and variety of its contents—indicates that it likely held considerable power and influence in the area.”

This revised chronology is bolstered by a thorough comparison of multiple artifacts (both spoons and jewelry), alongside discoveries of contextual dates from Continental Europe and objects from the 5th-century Hoxne Reservoir housed in the British Museum.

Professor Swift also found that England was less isolated than previously thought, and the treasured items were influenced by the Roman Empire.

“The Sitford gems display remarkable stylistic diversity, hinting at various artisans producing works from different regions,” Professor Swift explained.

“Some of the latest rings in the collection may have originated from Northern Italy or nearby regions, including necklaces adorned with conical beads from Balkan tribes in Europe.”

“Most of the jewelry reflects a ‘Rome of the Mediterranean’ aesthetic, suggesting a shared cultural heritage among elite circles across a broad geographic area.”

This research was published in the Journal of Roman Archaeology.

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Ellen Swift. 2024. Rethinking the dates and interpretations of Thetford treasures: the fifth c. A storage of gold jewels and silver spoons. Journal of Roman Archaeology 37(2): 409-448; doi: 10.1017/s104759424000278