Every so often a remarkable discovery hits the headlines - often an account of treasure hunters striking lucky after years of searching the land, or perhaps a chance find made by a farmer after ploughing. With each new hoard comes a story, or a number of possible stories and unanswered questions. Who did it belong to? Why was it buried or lost and not recovered? This fascinating book investigates a broad selection of hoards that have come to light in recent times across the British Isles. Here are caches of prehistoric axes; pits filled with intricately wrought Iron Age torcs; pots of Roman coins; spectacular Anglo-Saxon military equipment; impressive Viking brooches; a jeweller's stock from seventeenth-century England; a sealed glass jar of gold sovereigns from World War II. The author looks at the variety of objects found and at the practice of hoarding itself. She also considers who the hoarders were and what might have compelled them - economic upheaval, war, or more complex social and ritual customs.

This book will investigate the most interesting and bountiful hoard discoveries as well as studying the practise of hoarding itself. Exploring the great variety of hoards all the way from Bronze-Age weapon deposits, Greek and Roman coin hoards, impressive Viking wealth, to gold sovereigns hidden in the twentieth century, this book will consider who was responsible for the hoarding, and why they might have been compelled to do so. These motivations may shed light on times of economic upheaval or reveal more complex social and ritual customs.

Book Information
ISBN 9780714118253
Author Eleanor Ghey
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint British Museum Press
Publisher British Museum Press
Weight(grams) 420g