A Roman grave containing a lead coffin and more than 250 coins has been discovered in a field. The artefacts were found near Ilminster, Somerset, by a member of the Detecting for Veterans group and are believed to date from AD400.
The Roman copper alloy coins were discovered in a field in Somerset [Credit: Jason Massey & Kevin Minto] |
The site will be subject to further archaeological investigations in the new year.
Laura Burnett, the Somerset finds liaison officer, said lead was a "fancy and expensive" way of being buried in Roman times.
"They're probably using locally produced lead from the Mendips - so it might have been a bit cheaper here than in other parts of the county - but it's an expensive thing to be buried in."
The group returned a few days later with the county archaeologist and discovered a rare lead lined coffin on the same site [Credit: Jason Massey & Kevin Minto] |
Mr Minto said he originally found two coins and then a number of others close by.
"That was when I realised we had a hoard," he said. "Obviously it's an important find, the archaeologists are chuffed to nuts and they'll do whatever they have to," he added.
"This is a very special site, a rare discovery of lead coffins," Mr Croft said. "Lead ones that we know go from Shepton Mallet to Wiveliscombe, and this central part of Somerset - so this one is an unusual one."
There were 37 reported cases of treasure found in Somerset in 2016, the largest for five years.
Source: BBC News Website [December 21, 2017]