Tetbury Hoard: Cleaned pot and coins (FindID 515068)
English: The following is the Treasure report produced by Richard Abdy and Eleanor Ghey Globular pot: 1435 radiates to AD282 (+ one stray nummus) BM ref.: 2010 T566 Cremation urn: 2+8 radiates to AD 274 Circumstances of Discovery Found with the aid of a metal detector, 16/09/2010, and excavated by archaeologist Tony Roberts the following day. It appears to be a hoard of coins deposited as grave goods in a small globular pot alongside a cinerary urn. 3D Tomography of the cinerary urn showed that this contained 8 coins in its base. It was decided that the urn should not be disturbed before acquisition, although further experimental imaging was carried out by Southampton University in order to aid identification of these coins. The coins Twenty-five coins from the area of the excavation (and one stray Valentinianic nummus present as a loose find from the trench) were identified prior to inquest by Richard Abdy and an estimated total calculated from the weight of the coins and pot. Two of the radiates in this group were from the cremation pot context. Coins were subsequently removed from the smaller pot by Pippa Pearce in the Department of Conservation at the British Museum and are catalogued below. The ten coins from the cremation urn date to AD 274, and thus the hoard can be assumed to be contemporary with the burial deposit. Although coins sometimes occur as grave goods alongside inhumations, there are very few known examples of hoards accompanying cremation burials such as this. One parallel might be the third century hoard found in two pots at Mildenhall, Suffolk, in c. 1832, which appears to have accompanied a cremation contained within a glass vessel; "Within this vessel were ashes; and beads were either contained in it or were lying close to it". Robertson's 2000 survey of coin hoards records a small number of hoards in association with inhumations (for such hoards of the third century see Robertson number 764: Ilston (Glamorgan), 662: Brougham (Westmorland), 642: Southwark (London) and 523: Deeping St James (Lincolnshire). These also seem to be rare beyond the deposition of small numbers of coins in burials. Where this has been reported, there is often some doubt about the association, for example in the case of the hoard of 56 silver fourth century coins found with an inhumation at Willersey, Gloucestershire . Note on pottery associated with the hoard - by Jane Timby, Reading University and Bryony Finn, British Museum Small globular pot - A globular flask of the 'New Forest' type with painted decoration but minus the top, it could be one of 10 of Fulford's types. The painted motif is a slight variant on those published in Fulford (1975) New Forest Pottery BAR 17. On Fulford's dating most appear to be dated c. AD 300-330. There is a possibility that this vessel made its way to the Cotswolds through trade, and that it is not common in this area. Dimensions: Diameter (at widest point): 142mm Diameter (neck): 19mm Depth: 144mm Urn - This vessel could be Severn Valley ware (SVW). It is pink/grey in colour with fairly thick walls, 5-6mm thick. Unfortunately it is missing the rim, which is a crucial component for identification. SVW was a long-lived industry (from the 1st Century AD - 4th Century AD), and so would be broadly consistent with the small globular pot, which it was found adjacent to. Dimensions: Diameter (at widest point): 165mm Diameter (closest to rim): 102mm Depth: 277mm Disposition Corinium Museum, Cirencester. The finder/landowner (who wished to remain anonymous) has generously waived the reward. Summary by reign (all radiates except where noted): Central empire Valerian and Gallienus (joint reign) (AD 253-260) Salonina 1 Gallienus (sole reign AD 260-8) 127 Salonina 5 Sole or joint reign Salonina 2 Claudius II (AD 268-70) 114 Divus Claudius 50 Quintillus (AD 270) 7 Aurelian (AD 270-5) 5 Tacitus (AD 275-6) 2 Probus (AD 276-282) 7 Gallic Empire Postumus (AD 260-9) 15 Laelian (AD 269) 2 Marius (AD 269) 1 Victorinus (AD 269-71) 275 Tetricus I (AD 271-4) 402 Tetricus II 210 Uncertain Gallic emperor 79 Uncertain empress 2 Uncertain emperor 85 Contemporary copies 54 Stray nummus 1 Total 1446