artefacts Archives - Regton Metal Detectors

Bronze Age Gold Unearthed in Denmark

9 July 20159 July 2015 Regton Detectors 4 Comments

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK—Some 2,000 spirals made of gold have been unearthed in a field in south-western Zealand, where four gold rings and six gold bowls have been found in the past. The spirals date to the Bronze Age, between 900 and 700 B.C. “Maybe the spirals were fastened to the threads lining a hat or parasol. Maybe they were woven into hair or embroidered on a ceremonial garb. The fact is that we do not know, but I am inclined to believe that they were part of a priest-king’s garb or part of some head-wear, said Flemming Kaul of the Danish National Museum press release. The site has now yielded the most gold jewellery and other artefacts by weight from the northern European Bronze Age. “The sun was one of the holy symbols in the Bronze Age and gold was presumably seen as having some sort of particular magic power. It is coloured like the sun, it shines like the sun, and because gold lasts forever, it was also seen as containing some of the sun’s power,” Kaul said.

Besides the four gold rings that triggered the excavation, six other large and heavy gold rings have been found in the same area. And in the 1800s some local farmers found six gold vessels at Borgbjerg Banke, located some 500 meters away. The rings weigh together 3.5 kg, and the bowls and beakers more than a kilogram, so it is one of the largest gold finds from the Bronze Age in Northern Europe. It shows that the place had a special significance for the Bronze Age people when they chose to sacrifice several kilos of gold.

Source: http://archaeology.org

Rare bronze Roman cockerel on display in Cirencester.

4 November 20144 November 2014 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

Three years since it was discovered during excavations on an ancient cemetery, a rare bronze Roman cockerel has been given a permanent home. The 2nd century figurine is believed to be one of only nine ever found in the Roman Empire, and is part of a new exhibition at the Corinium Museum in the Cirencester.

The child was buried wearing hobnailed shoes and was accompanied by a pottery feeding vessel, and the remarkable enamelled bronze figurine of a cockerel. The cockerel is 5-inches tall (12.5cm) and the breast, wings, eyes and ‘comb’ are inlaid with enamel, which now appears blue and green. There is a separately moulded tail plate, also enamelled, with ‘openwork’ decoration. The beak is shown open, in the act of crowing. It is believed that the Romans gave religious significance to the cockerel which was known to be connected with Mercury. Experts claim it was Mercury, a messenger to the gods, that was also responsible for conducting newly-deceased souls to the afterlife. Statues of this god, including one in the Corinium Museum, commonly show a cockerel at the base. The association probably stems from Mercury’s role as the messenger to the gods and that of the cockerel as ‘announcer’ of the new dawn. Mercury was also the ‘herdsman for the dead’, guiding newly deceased souls on their passage to the afterlife. It is therefore possible that the cockerel was an offering by a devotee of Mercury and expresses a parent’s particular concern to ensure safe transit of a loved one into the after world.

rare roman brooch detected with metal detector xp deus

Rare Roman brooch detected in Aldridge.

22 July 201422 July 2014 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

Craig Pulley found a rare brooch while scouring a field on the outskirts of his home town, Aldridge, near Walsall. He almost threw away his incredibly rare find, believing it to be junk. Last week Birmingham Museum confirmed the significance of Craig’s discovery. It’s an Aesica brooch, measuring 60mm by 40mm, dating between AD70 and AD100. The brooch, made from copper alloy, won’t make Craig a rich man. But it is significant for two reasons:
-It is in a bow shape – and few of those survive. “Fibula” clasps are more commonly uncovered.
-It is rare evidence of a Roman settlement in Aldridge.
Mr Pulley is using an XP Deus metal detector which is available in Regton Metal Detectors Shop.

Because the brooch is not made from precious metal, Craig can keep it. And he has no intention of selling the rare item.

Mr Pulley with an XP Deus metal detector, and his unique Roman brooch

Treasure and artefacts found by amateurs…

29 May 201129 May 2011 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

By Maev Kennedy, The Guardian, Wednesday 25^th May 2011

Kennedy talks about the annual report from the British Museum and how there has been a dramatic increase of England’s treasure found by amateurs using metal detectors.

“Amateurs using metal detectors have found record amounts of golden treasure and priceless scraps of history across England, according to an annual report from the British Museum.”

Click the link below to read the full article:

http://bit.ly/kDS0AC

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