2 rare discoveries have been officially declared treasure following an inquest hearing at the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court.
The important finds on the Isle of Wight – 1 Saxon and the other Bronze Age – are helping to tell more of the Island’s ancient story.
The first is a copper alloy and silver belt mount from the Early Medieval period, around AD 550–650. It has a zig-zag silver border and a small beaked creature with a spotted body, made in a style known as Trewhiddle.
The piece (pictured above) was found in Shorwell by Keith Stuart and would once have decorated a man’s belt or buckle.
Only 6 similar examples are known in Britain, and this is the only one ever found on the Isle of Wight. The Museum of Island History in Newport hopes to add it to its collection.
The second find is a Bronze Age hoard of axeheads, dating from around 700–600 BC. It includes one complete socketed axehead and nine fragments, all of a type known as Sompting. These ancient tools were hollow, with a loop to tie them to a wooden handle.
The hoard was found in Arreton, near the River Yar, by the trio of John Flynn, Stuart Webb, and Shirley Hale. It links to a previous part of the same hoard already held by the Museum of Island History.
Archaeologists think hoards like this were often buried as offerings, especially near rivers and wetlands. Because this one was found in what would once have been part of the River Yar’s marshes, it could reveal more about Bronze Age beliefs on the Island.
Both discoveries were reported to Dr Lewis Ferrero, the Isle of Wight Council’s Finds Liaison Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme. The scheme records objects found by members of the public and helps build a picture of how people on the Island lived in the past.
Dr Ferrero encourages anyone who finds something unusual to get in touch so it can be identified and recorded before being returned.
Caroline Sumeray, Senior Coroner for the Isle of Wight, declared the items as tresure.
