Jewellery in a Roman treasure hoard found in Thetford Forest, East Anglia, indicates that Thetford was pagan until the 5th century, which is longer than previously believed, a new paper published by Cambridge University Press in Journal of Roman Archaeology reveals.
The Thetford treasure was first found by a metal detectorist trespassing on a construction site at Fison's Way on Gallows Hill, Thetford in 1979. It consisted of 81 objects, including 22 gold finger-rings, other gold jewellery, and 36 silver spoons or strainers. It is now in the collections of the British Museum and can be seen on display there.
The author of the research, Professor Ellen Swift of University of Kent, argues that there is compelling evidence that the treasure was buried in the 5th century rather than the late 4th.
Swift says: "Since wider evidence found at the site confirms the religious context previously established by inscriptions on the spoons within the hoard, this means, remarkably, that the re-dating of the Thetford hoard suggests a pagan cult centre survived there into the 5th century.
"The site's economic assets, indicated by the value and variety of the hoard, also show that it may have wielded significant power and authority locally."
This new chronology is supported by detailed comparisons of multiple objects (both spoons and jewellery) with context-dated finds from continental Europe, and with objects from the 5th century Hoxne hoard in the British Museum, which was found more recently than the Thetford hoard and contains many similar items.
The paper also shows that Britain was less isolated than previously believed, with the items in the treasure originating from across the Roman empire.
The Thetford jewellery especially is highly varied in style, suggesting the different pieces originated in different places. Some of the latest-dating finger-rings in the hoard likely originated in northern Italy or adjacent regions, and the necklace with conical beads from the Balkans area of Europe.
Most of the jewellery is generically 'Mediterranean Roman' in style illustrating a geographically widespread shared culture among elites.
