Buried Treasure: 1,900-Year-Old Roman Jewelry Unearthed

A small pit filled with ancient Roman jewelry that dates back nearly 2,000 years to a violent riot that occurred around A.D. 61 was unearthed beneath a London-area department store, according to a British archaeology organization.

An archaeologist with the Colchester Archaeological Trust, a registered charity devoted to promoting archaeology in the area, discovered the buried treasure during an excavation beneath the Williams & Griffin department store in the town center.

The haul includes three gold armlets, two silver bracelets, a silver chain necklace, a small bag of coins, a "substantial" silver armlet and a small jewelry box with four gold rings and two sets of gold earrings. The surprise find represents the first discovery of precious metals in the British town of Colchester, the archaeologists said. [Image Gallery: Ancient Treasure Trove Revealed]

"It is very exciting for us, as we only find precious metals very rarely," the trust wrote in a statement. "The treasure is archaeologically significant because it was buried under the Boudican destruction debris, and it tells a powerful story."

The occurred when native Britons staged an uprising against the Roman occupation of their country. The rebellion was brutal, with archaeological evidence showing that buildings in London, Colchester and St Albans were burned to the ground and that many of the towns' inhabitants were slaughtered. Eventually, Roman army members put down the protest, preserving Britain's place in the Roman Empire.

news.yahoo.com...
Klik for more.

Among one of my favorite warrior queens of the ancient world was Boadicea if only she had a more disciplined force and her own fatal mistake of blocking passage for a strategic retreat .

a reply to: Spider879

Thanks for that.

There must be so many great archaeological finds lurking under British buildings.

Further pictures of the find here.

saesferd.wordpress.com...

a reply to: Spider879

The occurred when native Britons staged an uprising against the Roman occupation of their country. The rebellion was brutal, with archaeological evidence showing that buildings in London, Colchester and St Albans were burned to the ground and that many of the towns' inhabitants were slaughtered.

Wow, they was pissed, huh?

I bet one of the people they were after was part of the local elite and they buried their treasure that they stole from the people to protect it. Since it was still buried after the "cleansing", the owner probably got their comeuppance. A warning to the elite of any era…

a wakeup call to the serfs, slaves and minimum wage workers everywhere.

Nice wrist watch

Cool find...

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Spider879

The occurred when native Britons staged an uprising against the Roman occupation of their country. The rebellion was brutal, with archaeological evidence showing that buildings in London, Colchester and St Albans were burned to the ground and that many of the towns' inhabitants were slaughtered.

Wow, they was pissed, huh?

I bet one of the people they were after was part of the local elite and they buried their treasure that they stole from the people to protect it. Since it was still buried after the "cleansing", the owner probably got their comeuppance. A warning to the elite of any era…

a wakeup call to the serfs, slaves and minim wage workers everywhere.

Yeah the response was Brutal that was the Roman way,she and her daughters had been violated her husband killed for have offend Rome,but that sister did a lot of damage and the first to go were the..uncle tom Brits that took on Roman culture.

a reply to: Spider879

I came to the thread to gaze on ancient treasure and day-dream about what it'd be like to find a valuable hoard. Those childhood dreams never go away do they?

Instead I found the details of rebellion way more interesting. The natives of these islands have always been rebellious and it's reassuring to be reminded that we were just the same deep into the Roman occupation. It's so evocative to see that layer of destruction, death and treasure recording the events of almost 2000 years ago. It really brings it to life.

They're talking about the rise of Boudicca (Boudicea) and I like to imagine she looks likes this beautiful woman (posted by Skalla) >



...even though she probably looked like a Soviet shotputter in reality.

a reply to: Kandinsky
Lets day dream that she was that beautiful red head..

But on a serious note no group of people ever took repression laying down,there will be resistance sometimes subtle but most of the time violent,even those who sold-out at first their descendants often times gained enough knowledge wealth and clout to turn the tables this happens only all the time the German Arminius came to mind.

a reply to: Spider879

Collaborators get theirs in the end. Thats why we see the rise of a police state that is more militaristic as time goes on. Their task is to protect those same people that Lord it over everyone.

I hope they squirm in bed at night, listening to every sound like a crack addict, waiting for the rise of the peasants that will be eventually coming for them.

a reply to: Spider879

Yeah, part of my studies at Uni focused on the great English uprisings and cultural shifts. Mainly from Wat Tyler to the Diggers to the aftermath of the Charles' execution.

It always seems that, despite the rebellions, the status quo adjusts itself and carries on.

originally posted by: Kandinsky
a reply to: Spider879

Yeah, part of my studies at Uni focused on the great English uprisings and cultural shifts. Mainly from Wat Tyler to the Diggers to the aftermath of the Charles' execution.

It always seems that, despite the rebellions, the status quo adjusts itself and carries on.

And the common thread in all this is usually someone is bought off even with a minor share of the action as promised,somtimes a rebellion can be successful but the leaders of such rebellion cannot help themselves in mimicking their former oppressors often surpassing them.

a reply to: Kandinsky

According to accounts of the day Boudicca was described as looking like this:

heroinesofhistory.wikispaces.com...

In stature she was very tall, in appearance most terrifying, in the glance of her eye most fierce, and her voice was harsh; a great mass of the tawniest hair fell to her hips.
- Cassius Dio, Roman historian

www.unc.edu...

"She was huge of frame, terrifying of aspect, and with a harsh voice. A great mass of bright red hair fell to her knees: She wore a great twisted golden necklace, and a tunic of many colors, over which was a thick mantle, fastened by a brooch. Now she grasped a spear, to strike fear into all who watched her...…"
-Dio Cassius (Dudley and Webster, 54)

a reply to: theabsolutetruth

Thanks for that

Although the details are more than likely close to being accurate, it wouldn't be a big surprise to find the Roman historians had exaggerated her stature. After all, they were frequently extreme in their depictions and moreso in relation to those who had succeeded against them. Propaganda has always had a value.

Then again, she was undoubtedly an excellent warrior and leader and might well have been as described. Violent times and violent people.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Spider879

Collaborators get theirs in the end. Thats why we see the rise of a police state that is more militaristic as time goes on. Their task is to protect those same people that Lord it over everyone.

I hope they squirm in bed at night, listening to every sound like a crack addict, waiting for the rise of the peasants that will be eventually coming for them.

Not always

In many cases the conquerors win and the losers take on the alien culture to survive or are set apart, controlled and shunned - or destroyed. See the Ainu of Japan, all the people which the Arab conquest of Africa overwhelmed, American Indians, Welsh, etc, etc.

Not very many non native Americans are deeply concerned about a Native American rising......

a reply to: Hanslune

Not very many non native Americans are deeply concerned about a Native American rising……

Thanks for the reply, Hanslune. I was thinking more the period right after WWII.

Mussolini, Paris, France and reprisals against death camp guards, for instance.

originally posted by: Hanslune

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Spider879

Collaborators get theirs in the end. Thats why we see the rise of a police state that is more militaristic as time goes on. Their task is to protect those same people that Lord it over everyone.

I hope they squirm in bed at night, listening to every sound like a crack addict, waiting for the rise of the peasants that will be eventually coming for them.

Not always

In many cases the conquerors win and the losers take on the alien culture to survive or are set apart, controlled and shunned - or destroyed. See the Ainu of Japan, all the people which the Arab conquest of Africa overwhelmed, American Indians, Welsh, etc, etc.

Not very many non native Americans are deeply concerned about a Native American rising......

Overwhelmed yes but there are significant push backs,the Amazigh are being much more than vocal about their situation although Islam will most likely remain in place,the Sudan has just broken up in two halves and the threat for more brakes is very high in the eastern and western parts of the country even within the "Arab" controlled central government the local African cultures are reasserting themselves many are questioning the so-called Arab identity,so as far as I see it it's not the end of history .

The situation for both Ainu and Native North Americans do in fact seemed to be closed, however south of the border Native Americans are reasserting themselves culturally and politically will they keep Catholicism and the Spanish language if they came to power in a big way?? yes more than likely.

a reply to: Spider879

Yes for Africa one can look at the Copts and the Berbers as examples of survival under an alien regime, perhaps even the Tuareg, and of course the surviving Sfardim.