SDO14440 - The Wareham St Martin Hoard, Dorset, 2013: Excavation Report

‘In November 2013 a partially dispersed burial hoard of Roman copper-alloy coins dating to the later 3rd century AD was discovered during metal-detecting in Wareham St Martin parish, Dorset. The find fulfilled the criteria for reporting under the Treasure Act 1996 (as amended) and was immediately notified to the Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset by the finder, enabling professional archaeological excavation and recording of the hoard in its primary setting. Excavation showed the surviving part of the hoard to be contained in the remains of a locally produced Black Burnished Ware jar, laid on its side on the base of a relatively shallow sub-circular or oval pit. The upper part of the hoard had been truncated and dispersed by later ploughing, and it stratigraphically post-dated a layer interpreted as a Roman agricultural plough soil. This contained considerable quantities of Roman pottery and briquetage (coarse ceramic containers associated with salt production) and, in turn, sealed a darker, clay-flecked soil layer, also containing Roman pottery. The location of the hoard site has not been made public at sub-parish level at the time of writing. Detailed location information forms part of the hoard’s Treasure Case documentation (reference 2013 T822).’