Detected Treasures go on display
A group of small archaeological treasures has gone on display in the civic showcase at the Guildhall, Winchester.
The artefacts were all discovered by local metal detectorists in the Winchester district and were reported to the Hampshire Finds Liaison Officer, either for recording through the Portable Antiquities Scheme or as required by the Treasure Act 1996.
They have all recently been added to the collections held by Winchester City Council's Museums Service.
The display includes objects from right across the Winchester District, from Crawley and Hursley in the west to Warnford and Soberton in the east. There are artefacts used by people during 3000 years of history including a Bronze Age gold penannular ring, Roman brooches, silver Saxon coins and a silver buckle made by Webbs of Winchester about 300 years ago.
Jodi Puls, Finds Liaison Officer for Hampshire, said "Although these objects represent individual finds, they each play an important role in our understanding of the past by adding to our knowledge of the history of the District."
Cllr. Therese Evans, the City Council Portfolio holder for Culture, Heritage and Sport, said "This is a very exciting display of finds from across the Winchester District which shows the wealth of our heritage that continues to be recorded, collected and displayed for local people by the City Council's Museums Service. Don't miss this opportunity to see these latest finds!"
The assembled treasures will be on display until 27 January 2006. You can find them in the Guildhall foyer display case, just outside the entrance to the Guildhall Gallery.
If you have found any small archaeological treasures of your own, the Museums Service offers a free identification service and would like to hear from you. All objects identified that qualify will be recorded onto the Portable Antiquities Scheme Database.
For further information please visit www.finds.org.uk
Bring your finds along to the City Museum in the Square, Winchester, or Museums offices in Hyde Street and find out if you have discovered your own piece of history.
Contacts - Robin Iles, Education Officer; Jodi Puls, Finds Liaison Officer
Tel. 01962 848 269 Email: museums@winchester.gov.uk
For more information on the Portable Antiquities Scheme see www.finds.org.uk