Find Spot record MDO43429 - Bronze or Iron Age metalwork hoard, Hilton

[Marginal] A gold torque, together with a ring of the same material, were found in 1825, 18 ins below the surface, by man draining a meadow at Anstey. The torque was 49 ins long, exclusive of the trumpet shaped ends, and the ring was 3 ins in diameter.
These ornaments were secured by C. Hall and in 1871 were in the possession of the Earl of Portarlington. <1>

A gold torque and armlet were found in 1824 at Anstey on land belonging to Lady Caroline Damer. They were in 1872 in the possession of Lord Portarlington. <2>

An armlet, a torque, and a circular concave object, 4 ins in diameter and made from two laminae of gold, possibly a breast ornament (similarone in Dublin Museum).

These three articles were discovered sometime between 1808 and 1828 in open ground at Hilton on a farm occupied by C. Hall. They are now the property of the Earl of Portarlington. <3>

The C. Hall, referred to above, had a farm at Higher Ansty. <4>

Seven autonomous Greek bronze coins in the collection of the Rev. Thomas Rackett listed as from Abbey Milton [Milton Abbas is 3 miles from Higher Anstey]. According to Rackett they "were found a few years ago by a person who discovered at the same time a gold torques intrinsically worth £30. This, which was obtained by the late Lady Caroline Damer, is now probably in the possession of Col. Dawson Damer of Milton Abbey". The coins were apparently procured for Rackett by John Ford of Charlton Marshall <4.1>.

There were 4 coins of the 3rd cent B.C. (2 of Naples, 1 of Selencus I,1 of Antiochus I), 2 of the 2nd cent B.C. (1 of Amplupolis, 1 of the Mamertini) and 1 of the 1st cent. B.C. (Antioch) "all but one in fair state of preservation. It is very unlikely that these were all deposited at Abbey Milton at the same time: they were probably casual losses at a place which was in occupation over a longish period: the gold torques," identified by Milne with that referred to in <3>, "is of a Bronze Age type considerably earlier than any of the coins". [But all could be scrap metal - ? an I.A. metalworker's hoard]. <5>

Near the same spot, some years later, Mr Hall found a small thick gold ring, similar to that supposed to be used as `ring-mony' It was 3/4" in diameter and of equal thickness throughout. <1>

<1> Hutchins, J, 1873, The history and antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 4. 3rd edition, 360 (Monograph). SDO10245.

<1.1> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1849, Archaeological Journal 56, 56 (Serial). SDO17660.

<2> Warne, C, 1872, Ancient Dorset (2nd Edition), 231 (Monograph). SWX1971.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1881, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, 158-9 (Serial). SDO3.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 22-AUG-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4.1> Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Inf: Brig. Woodhouse, Higher Melcombe (Verbal communication). SDO17661.

<5> Milne, J G, 1948, Finds of Greek Coins in the British Isles, 18, 24-25 (Monograph). SWX2101.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 201806 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 15 2024 11:23AM