Photo: dating back to the 1st century BC, two of the coins from the Iron Age hoard are of an unusually high quality never seen before and have a line-drawn head design. © Kent County Council.
In two separate incidents metal detectorists working in Kent have unearthed fascinating hoards of prehistoric coins, axe heads and jewellery.
A number of weeks ago two metal detectorists found an Iron Age hoard on farmland near Maidstone and last Sunday another detectorist dug up a Bronze Age hoard near Wye.
A spokesperson for Kent County Council explained how discoveries such as these are usually few and far between, but incredibly two have come along in quick succession; "they’re like buses," he said.
The first to be discovered dates back to the 1st century BC and consists of more than 360 coins and coin fragments thought to have belonged to members of the Cantiaci tribe, after whom Kent was named.
Metal detectorists Peter and Christine Johnson made the initial find on farmland near Maidstone, but the full extent of the hoard was revealed by a Kent County Council dig at the weekend.
Photo: veterans of beach detectoring, this Iron Age hoard was found on Peter & Christine Johnson's first search on farmland. © Kent County Council.
The pair had several unsuccessful previous searches on beaches, but the first time the couple got permission to go metal detectoring in a field, they made this discovery.
"I always said give us a field and we will find something," said Peter.
Admitting that they were a little confused as to what they had found at first, Peter explained how a quick look on the web made everything clear.
"Some of the coins were joined together in a strip and I thought they were tokens from a shield," he said.
"When I looked on the internet and saw 150 BC my jaw dropped. I just could not believe it. I scanned several sites and found they were from the Cantiaci tribe."
He then reported the discovery to Kent Finds Liaison Officer, Andrew Richardson, who organised last Sunday’s dig. A team of six detectorists worked together with council archaeologists and the Kent Archaeological Society to unearth the hoard.
Photo: altogether Peter and Christine found more than 360 coins and coin fragments. © Kent County Council.
The hoard is currently being held by Kent County Council for safe-keeping and will shortly be sent for analysis at The British Museum.
In accordance with the Treasure Act, a coroner’s inquest will then determine whether it is classified as treasure. If so, the hoard can then be bought by a museum and its value split between the finders and the landowner.
In the meantime, while Andrew and his colleagues were out digging up the Iron Age hoard, another metal detectorist found an earlier one from the Bronze Age.
On Sunday December 7, 48 axe heads, 14 spear heads, rings, sword pieces and other artefacts were dug up by a detectorist from a pit in the Stour Valley near Wye.
This additional find is currently being analysed by Kent County Council and will be reported to The British Museum for investigation.
