Researchers study unusual hoard of late Roman metal objects discovered in the British Isles

Researchers report one of the most unusual late Roman metal objects ever discovered in the British Isles. Although the Knaresborough hoard was discovered around 1864, no detailed analysis of the objects was ever undertaken. The circumstances surrounding its discovery have also not been fully understood.

Jessica De Maso, an archeology student at Newcastle University, carried out the first in-depth study of the treasure as part of her master’s degree, and the results are published in The Antiques Journal.

Most of the 30 objects, now on display at the Yorkshire Museum in York, were donated to the museum in 1864 by Thomas Gott, an ironmonger who was also a town councilor and lived in Knaresborough. However, he was reluctant to say where they were found or who owned the land.

Research by Jessica and her colleagues at Newcastle University suggests the treasure was likely discovered in a marshy area near Farnham, in the Mowbray Valley, around two miles north of Knaresborough. During the Roman period, two important Roman roads ran through the valley: Cade’s Road, which ran north-south on the east side, and Dere Street to the west, which was an important road linking York and Hadrian’s Wall.

Due to these connections there were a number of wealthy Roman villas in the area and it is thought that items in the collection may have come from one of these, or from a townhouse or a wealthy settlement nearby.

The Knaresborough hoard is the only known example of a late Roman hoard of its type to have been recovered from a bog or marsh in Britain.

It is not known why the objects were grouped together and deposited in the bog, but there are examples from other parts of the Roman Empire where this was done for ritual or spiritual reasons, or simply to hide them or make it irrecoverable.

During their investigations, the research team also found evidence that there were originally more objects in the hoard at the time of their discovery, but that many had been mistakenly melted down in the smelter of Gott.

Revisiting old discoveries

The surviving collection is mainly made in bronze and includes a large fluted bowl (approximately 48 cm in diameter) with a scalloped rim, more commonly in gold or silver, and a bronze vessel handle with a unique stand to support it , both are the only known examples in Britain, with a number of bowls, colanders and oval plates.

The research team says many objects were clearly intended to impress guests at the table when presenting or serving food, because when polished, the bronze would have looked like gold and suggested a certain level of wealth.

By carrying out portable X-ray fluorescence analysis, the team was able to confirm the composition of ancient alloys and discovered that many objects in the collection also showed signs of ancient repairs, reinforcing the fact that they were made from a precious material.

James Gerrard, Professor of Roman Archeology at Newcastle University, said: “This project has shown the value of revisiting ancient finds and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside the Yorkshire Museum to better understand this extraordinary collection and who Thomas Gott was.

“It’s good to know that more than 150 years later, our research has helped tell a fascinating, albeit complex, part of the story of this remarkable discovery.”

Adam Parker, Curator of Archeology at Yorkshire Museum, said: “The Knaresborough Hoard is an exceptional collection of Roman copper alloys, which has long been part of Yorkshire Museum’s collection. The excellent work undertaken by Newcastle University has uncovered the research potential of these objects for the first time and will allow us to tell their story more fully.”

“Old collections, new questions”

The research also helped learn more about Thomas Gott and his role in the discovery.

In 1848 Gott married Mary Anne Drury, a widow, in Scarborough. Mary Anne died in 1860, aged 47, and the following year Gott married Emma, ​​his late wife’s sister, in London.

At this time Gott was Improvement Commissioner for Knaresborough and although the marriage of a widower to his sister-in-law was generally accepted, it was illegal and might explain why it took place in London, where they could avoid any control and minimize the risk that Gott’s reputation is called into question.

The research team suggests that Gott must have known Frederick Hartley, who was also part of the Knaresborough Improvement Commission and was the agent and property manager for land near Farnham owned by Sir Charles Slingsby. Research revealed how in 1864 Slingsby had commissioned works to improve the drainage of a marshy part of his land, and it was most likely during these works that the treasure was discovered.

Hartley kept one cup for himself or Slingsby and gave the rest to Gott, who then gave the majority of the collection to the Yorkshire Museum. Gott donated a second and final part of the collection to the Yorkshire Museum 13 years later.

In 2017, Yorkshire Museum listed the Knaresborough hoard as part of its ‘Old Collections, New Questions’ research initiative and Jessica jumped at the chance to study the hoard as part of her Masters in Archeology at the University of Newcastle.

Jessica, who now works as an archaeologist in the US, said: “Studying the Knaresborough hoard at the Yorkshire Museum was an incredible opportunity to address the idea that endless avenues of research can be carried out on collections existing in museums. I found this – and my time in Newcastle – particularly engaging and wonderfully stimulating. Researching the treasure and working throughout my master’s program in archeology carefully prepared me for my current job.