Published on Wednesday 1 August 2012 20:24
Part of an Iron Age helmet, which was found in Northamptonshire, has now been officially declared as “treasure”.
The cheekpiece – found in a field in the Greens Norton area by Steve Pulley in July last year – is thought to be extremely valuable and has been described as one of the most important finds in the county for several years.
Now the British Museum is looking into the possibility of buying it and putting it on display to the nation.
It features a bronze base and a thin layer of mercury gilding on the front and was certified as treasure by the county coroner following an inquest held at Northampton General Hospital yesterday.
Julie Cassidy, finds liasion officer for Northamptonshire, who deals with 1,500 artefacts a year – only about 20 of which are ever declared as “treasure’”– said: “It’s not particularly visually spectacular but in terms of its archaeological importance it’s pretty major. It’s a unique and exciting find for Northamptonshire.”
The unusual cheekpiece was discovered by experienced metal detecting enthusiast Mr Pulley, who also helped uncover the Whitehall Roman Villa in Nether Heyford in 1996.
He said: “I feel very privileged to have found something that once belonged to a high ranking Celtic warrior especially as it is something that adds to our knowledge of ancient Britain.”
The treasure, which weighs only 21.6g, will now go to an independent treasure valuation committee at the British Museum who will decide its value. Both the finder and the landowener can also get their own valuation. Once a price has been agreed it can then be sold, with the proceeds being split equally between the finder and the landowner.
It is believed to have been a decorative fitting which would have formed part of a larger object. Experts believe the unusual green corrosion on the reverse suggests that the backing was made from an organic material, perhaps leather.
The object fulfils the Treasure Act after it was confirmed that it was prehistoric and part of it was precious metal.
A report into the find described it as “Iron Age copper alloy sheet fragment, gilded on one side and heavily corroded on the other.”
It stated: “Although it is not possible to be sure of the exact nature of the larger object to which the fragment was once affixed, its form and decoration strongly suggest a late Iron Age date. The closest parallels date to the first centuries BC or AD.
“The combination of Iron Age decorative motifs and mercury gilding is of great archaeological interest.”
