Société Jersiaise - Bronze Age Hoard

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Bronze Age Hoard - Spring 2002

In late February this year two metal detectorists walking a field in St Ouen found a large and significant Bronze Age Hoard. Although they were aware that it would have been best for the hoard to have been archaeologically excavated to gain the fullest understanding of the find they were regretfully unable to raise assistance. The Archaeology Section did however arrive on the scene within the hour of hearing about the hoard but by then it had, for security reasons, already been dug out. The Section opened a small trench around the site of the hoard but found no trace of any pit, sack, pot or indeed anything other than the bronze itself. A single flint was found in the overlying plough soil.

The contents of the hoard includes winged and socketed axes which were lying at the top; spearheads, pieces of broken swords and some decorative pieces in the middle and lying in the bottom of the hole several lumps of bronze. The bronze pieces are now being cleaned and conserved prior to a detailed study.

Part of the Bronze Age hoard found in February 2002

Further examination of the locality may now be carried out but it is understood that no previous finds have been unearthed in this field. Some form of geophysical survey may be of assistance.

We are grateful to the landowner and the metal detectorists for advising us of the find.

C. N. Aubin