Stunning centuries-old hoards unearthed by metal detectorists

Archaeologists and amateurs armed with metal detectors have discovered previous hoards from centuries past.

For thousands of years, humans have buried hoards of artifacts. They've been hidden for a variety of reasons, such as religious offerings to deities or safekeeping from advancing armies. Metal detectors can be helpful for finding these hoards, and amateurs have been particularly enthusiastic about using them. 

Here's a look at hoards that were found by people using metal detectors. In most cases, the discoveries were made by amateurs. Many of the hoards are from Britain, where the use of metal detectors by amateurs is legal and finds are cataloged by the Portable Antiquities Scheme. 

Vale of Pewsey hoard

Discovered in 2020 by a metal detectorist in the Vale of Pewsey, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of London, the Vale of Pewsey hoard consists of about 160 coins that date back around 1,600 years. Many of the coins date to the reign of Roman emperor Theodosius I (A.D. 379 to 395), with a few coming from the time of his successor, Honorius. At this time, the Roman Empire was in decline and would abandon Britain in 410. It's unclear why this hoard was buried, but it may be related to the security situation in Britain as the Roman Empire left the island. 

Pewter vessel hoard

The word "hoard" may conjure up images of vast amounts of coins and jewelry made of precious metals. However, some hoards comprise much more modest items. One example was found by metal detectorists in 2022 near Euston Estate in Suffolk, England. It consists of 13 pewter vessels that date back around 1,700 years, to when the Romans controlled Britain. Why this hoard was buried is unclear, but it's possible that someone wanted to make a religious offering and did it with the modest means they had, perhaps after having a feast. 

Gold coins in Israel

The phrase "metal detectorist" is often associated with amateurs using a metal detector to find archaeological remains. However, scientists also use them occasionally. After receiving reports from scuba divers of coins near the ancient city of Caesarea, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority used metal detectors to help survey the area. They ended up finding a trove of nearly 2,000 gold coins in mint condition. The coins, which are probably from a shipwreck, date back around 1,000 years, to when the Fatimid Caliphate controlled the area. 

Staffordshire hoard

The Staffordshire hoard was discovered by a metal detectorist near Lichfield in Staffordshire, England, in 2009. The hoard, which dates to the seventh century, is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever found, according to the Stoke-on-Trent Museums. Much of the hoard consists of weapons and armor, including an ornate helmet that may have been worn by a king or other high-ranking official. Many items found in the hoard are bent or warped, and they may have been forcefully pulled off of someone. The hoard might have been buried as a gift to the gods. 

Medieval coin hoard

A hoard of 24 medieval coins was found by a metal detectorist near the village of Castlemorton, England, in 2023. Many of the coins are made of silver, with the earliest being minted during the reign of Henry III (1216-1272) and the latest minted during the reign of Henry V (1413-1422). It's unclear why this hoard was buried. Henry V famously won a major victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt, but these battles took place in France, not England. 

Galloway hoard

The Galloway hoard was discovered by a metal detectorist in Balmaghie, Scotland, in 2014. It consists of about 11 pounds (5 kg) of silver bullion (hunks of silver) and many ornate objects. The items include a silver pendant; a gold, bird-shaped pin; and a silver vessel with leopards, tigers and Zoroastrian symbols engraved on it. That particular vessel may have come from Central Asia. 

Dunscore hoard

In 2022, metal detectorists discovered a medieval hoard in a field near the village of Dunscore, Scotland. The Dunscore hoard has more than 8,400 silver coins that date to the Middle Ages, mainly the 13th and 14th centuries. Many of the coins are "Edwardian pennies," named after King Edward I (shown above), who reigned in England from 1272 to 1307. Edward I conquered Scotland in 1296 and is sometimes called the "hammer of the Scots." It's unclear why the hoard was buried. 

Norway Viking hoard

In 2021, a metal detectorist in Norway found a hoard of treasure that dates back around 1,100 years. The hoard has 46 fragments of silver, a pair of rings, the remains of Arabic coins, and fragments of a silver bracelet. At the time, pieces of silver were sometimes used for barter in Norway, and the fragments of silver in the hoard would have been worth more than half a cow. It's unclear why the hoard was buried; one possibility is that it was an offering to the gods. 

Spring hoard in Wales

In 2020, a metal detectorist discovered a hoard of artifacts on the Welsh island of Anglesey. The artifacts, which date back around 2,000 years, include chariot and cavalry fittings, a decorated brooch, four coins, the remains of a harness, and a 45-pound (20 kg) Roman copper ingot that may have been obtained from metal smelted at a nearby mine. The artifacts were likely placed near the spring as part of a religious ceremony. 

Papowo Biskupie hoard

In 2023, metal detectorists discovered a hoard of bronze artifacts in a dried-out lake bed near Papowo Biskupie, in north central Poland. The artifacts date to roughly 1200 to 450 B.C. and include more than 550 pieces of bronze jewelry, including necklaces, pendants and arm ornaments. The remnants of 33 skeletons, likely the remains of human sacrifice victims, were also found at the site. Radiocarbon dating suggested that many of the skeletons predate the hoard. The finds suggest that people were initially sacrificed at the site and that, at some point, this practice was stopped and metal objects were used instead. 

Migration period hoard in Norway

In 2023, a metal detectorist in Norway discovered a hoard of gold artifacts. They include nine pendants engraved with horse symbols; three gold rings; and 10 small, gold spheres that look like pearls. The gold spheres may have originally been attached to the pendants. In total, the hoard weighs about 3.5 ounces (100 grams). It dates to around A.D. 500, after the Western Roman Empire fell. It's not clear who buried this hoard or why they buried it. 

West Norfolk hoard

In 2021, the British Museum announced that an Anglo-Saxon hoard had been found in West Norfolk. It includes 131 coins, many made of gold, as well as a pendant, a gold bar and two other artifacts that may be parts of jewelry. The hoard was discovered by at least two metal detectorists working independently. Most of the coins are Frankish tremisses — small gold coins that were minted by the kingdom of the Franks, which was based in what is now France. The hoard was buried around A.D. 600 for reasons that are unclear. 

Switzerland Bronze Age hoard

A metal detectorist discovered a hoard of Bronze Age jewelry in a farmer's field in northeastern Switzerland in 2023. The finds include a necklace with 14 spiked, bronze discs, as well as two finger rings with spiral designs and more than 100 tiny, amber beads roughly the size of pinheads. The finds date to around 1500 B.C., but it's not clear why the hoard was buried. No human remains have been found nearby. The hoard may have originally been buried in a sack or other organic container that has since decayed.   

Danish hoard mentioning Odin

In 2021, a metal detectorist in Denmark discovered a hoard of gold artifacts dating back around 1,500 years. The hoard contains 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of gold and saucer-sized medallions known as bracteates. The hoard also contains jewelry that was molded from Roman coins. The most important discovery was a gold pendant that has an inscription containing the earliest known mention of the Norse god Odin. Follow-up archaeological research indicates that the hoard was buried inside a longhouse, possibly after the death of a chief or king. 

Broads hoard

In 2017, two metal detectorists discovered a hoard of gold coins dating back around 2,000 years. It's named the Broads hoard because it's located near a geographical area called the Broads, a network of rivers and lakes that run through the English countryside. It consists of 11 coins, some of which have engravings showing the Roman emperor Augustus, who was the sole ruler of the Roman Empire from 30 B.C. to A.D. 14. The hoard may have been buried for religious reasons or for safekeeping. 

Iron Age weapon hoard from Germany

In 2021, it was announced that a metal detectorist had discovered one of the largest Iron Age weapon hoards ever found in western Germany. Dating back around 2,200 years, the hoard contains around 150 artifacts, including 40 spearhead and lance-head tips, swords, horse gear and shield remains. Many of the weapons had been bent deliberately. It's possible that the weapons are from defeated foes and the victors took the weapons and bent them to signify their victory.

Swiss Roman hoard

In 2021, a metal detectorist in northern Switzerland discovered a clay pot filled with about 1,290 fourth-century Roman coins. The clay pot contained a piece of cowhide that divided the coins into two sections. Why the hoard was divided this way is unclear. Most of the coins are made of copper, but a few are silver. All of the coins were minted during the reign of Emperor Constantine I, between A.D. 306 and 337. It's unclear why the hoard was buried.