Posted on 09/02/2015 10:47:11 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
A man in England went exploring with a metal detector and made the discovery of a lifetime: an exquisitely preserved Roman-era grave filled with artifacts, including bronze jugs, mosaic glassware, coins and hobnails from a pair of shoes, all dating to about A.D. 200.
The grave likely belonged to a wealthy individual, said Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews, the archaeology and outreach officer for the North Hertfordshire District Council. Once Fitzpatrick-Matthews and his colleagues located the grave, they also found evidence of a nearby building, likely a shrine or temple, attached to a villa.
The man with the metal detector, Phil Kirk, found the grave in a field in Kelshall, a small village located between London and Cambridge. He had once found a Roman coin in the same field, and had a hunch that there were more Roman artifacts nearby, Fitzpatrick-Matthews said.
In October 2014, Kirk hit the jackpot. His metal detector led him to a buried bronze jug that stood roughly 10 inches (25 centimeters) tall. Next, he pulled out a bronze patera (a dish used for pouring wine or blood libations) and two other jugs.
Elated with what he had found, Kirk contacted local experts and told them about the findings. They returned to the spot later that month and in November and found even more artifacts: a bronze pin, an iron lamp, glassware and bottles of different shapes, including octagonal, hexagonal, rectangular and square, Fitzpatrick-Matthews said.
The hexagonal bottle held an unusual and macabre surprise.
"It quickly became apparent that the large hexagonal bottle was stuffed full with cremated bone," said Fitzpatrick-Matthews, who hadn't realized they were digging into a grave.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
A coin to pay the ferryman on the river Styx...
It was. I ran out of word count, but that’s described in the rest of the article. The coin was issued by Marcus Aurelius, but shows the earlier emperor Trajan, reigned 98-117 AD.
something like that
Last week I found a 1968 East German penny on the beach at the waters edge with my eye. We were looking for beach glass/amber.
A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid as an offering to a god or spirit or in memory of those who have died. It was common in many religions of antiquity and continues to be offered in various cultures today.
Various substances have been used for libations, most commonly wine or olive oil, and in India, ghee. The vessels used in the ritual, including the patera, often had a significant form which differentiated them from secular vessels. The libation could be poured onto something of religious significance, such as an altar, or into the earth. ...
I have a silver coin from 335 BC. It is from the reign of Philip of Macedon
Isn’t “brown” amber that is worth a ton of money, and exclusive to that part of the world??
That’s a nice find, it’s from a defunct country to boot.
We did find some nice Beach glass on the beach though.
Yes, thanks! :)
I offered it to my 1968 born German wife but she told me to keep it.
Nice!
Err, we found the sea glass variety.
I always mix that up.
Thanks ETL. Speaking of religions:
St.Faith’s Church[from wikiwackypedia]
St.Faith’s Church was restored thoroughly from 1868-70.[13] It is situated on the edge of the village and the ceilings are painted in a medieval style, which was done recently. The south door is also described as being “contemporary”. [14] “Several small ponds lie on the east of the church, and from the formation of the ground it appears probable that there was once a moat here”
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/St._Faith_church.jpg
The water’s edge had your eye? Ouch!
(Couldn’t resist - - - ) : ^ ]
Civ, over the years I have learned so much from your posts.
Today I learned the phrase “blood libations”.
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