In November 1992, retired gardener and metal-detecting hobbyist Eric Lawes went to a farm field in Hoxne, Suffolk, eastern England, to help his friend Peter Watling look for a missing hammer. Instead of tools, his detector picked up ancient coins, spoons and other unusual objects. Lawes stopped digging, alerted local police and the archaeological service, and allowed professionals to document the find properly.
That decision led to the discovery of the Hoxne Hoard, now considered one of the most important collections of late Roman gold and silver found in Britain. It contained more than 14,000 Roman coins, silver vessels, gold jewelry, many spoons and personal grooming items. Traces of wood and other organic material showed the valuables had been carefully packed in an oak chest, likely with internal compartments, smaller boxes, straw and cloth wrappings.
Researchers believe the hoard was intentionally buried in the early 5th century, near the end of Roman rule in Britain. Some of the latest coins date to 407 and 408 CE, helping narrow the burial date. The identity of the person who hid it, and why it was never recovered, remains unknown, though historians suggest it may have been concealed during instability, violence, economic breakdown, or after a robbery. The careful packing suggests it belonged to a very wealthy family.
In 1993, the find was legally declared treasure, meaning it was deliberately buried valuable property that the owner never reclaimed. Under British practice at the time, it passed to the Crown and was valued at £1.75 million, about NIS 7.4 million at the time. Lawes received that amount as finder’s reward and shared it with Watling. The British Museum now holds the national collection, and the most important pieces are on display in London.
