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Wilcot Hoard of Roman vessels

Hoard of Roman bronze vessels from Wilcot

We have just acquired an important hoard of four bronze vessels, probably buried at the end of Roman Britain, 1,600 years ago. They vessels were carefully nested inside each other, perhaps using heather, bracken and sedge grasses as 'bubblewrap'.

They are so fragile they can only be removed from their packing by an experienced conservators are are now being conserved for display in the Museum, thanks to the support of over 40 people who donated to our appeal in April 2023.

Although buried at the same time, the vessels are of different dates. The largest vessel is a bronze bowl that was made in around 350 AD, so the hoard must have been hidden after this date. The smallest is a wine strainer, which was over 200 years old when buried. The other two bronze bowls were also heirlooms, one of them being over 100 years old.

Lisa Brown, Curator at Wiltshire Museum, has found that the bronze vessels are fragile, and urgently needed conservation and cleaning to remove dried on soil and to prepare them for display. Conservation experts, Drakon Heritage and Conservation, have been selected undertake this incredibly delicate task, after which they will be displayed in the Museum, showing how they were deposited in the ground 1,600 years ago.

.The hoard was found by Paul Hart,  using a metal detector, and promptly reported  to the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer. The finder and landowner generously agreed to donate the vessels to the Wiltshire Museum.

For details about the find please see - https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/890951

Four Roman bronze vessels, nested inside each other

The four vessels in the Wilcot Hoard.

A Roman bronze strainer, seen from one side. This is a patinated green deep bowl with a very broad flat rim. The base of the bowl is perforated with holes in a flower-like pattern. There are clear traces of wear and damage in the base of the bowl.

Roman bronze wine strainer from the Wilcot Hoard. Made between 50 and 100AD. View showing the wear and damage inside the bowl of the strainer.

A Roman bronze strainer, seen from above, below and from the side. This is a patinated green deep bowl with a very broad flat rim. The base of the bowl is perforated with holes in a flower-like pattern.

Roman bronze wine strainer from the Wilcot Hoard. Made between 50 and 100AD.

View from the side of a patinated bronze bowl, with straight sharply tapering sides.

Roman bronze bowl from the Wilcot Hoard, probably made around 300AD.

Drawing of a shallow bowl, with curving sides and a hollow base.

Drawing of the largest bowl, a type known as an Irchester bowl and made around 350AD.

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