Treasure: Finding Our Past

Treasure, which comes from the Greek word thesauros, has a number of meanings in modern parlance. 'Buried treasure' and 'sunken treasure' are concepts which many have grown up with, either through reading books or playing computer games. The combination of precious objects - such as gold and silver or rare gems - and the discovery of these, is the essence of how treasure is perceived by twenty-first-century minds. For archaeologists, however, the word 'treasure' has a rather particular meaning as a legal definition of a certain class of archaeological find. 'What is Treasure?' gives a brief overview of the 'history' of treasure, including the origins of the law of Treasure Trove in England and Wales, and the events which led to its revision in 1996. 'Finding the Past' examines the ways in which many objects have come to light: through accidental discovery, metal detecting and construction work. 'Treasure tells Stories' shows how archaeologists can use treasure finds to understand more about the past by examining major finds such as Mildenhall, Winchester, English Civil War hoards and the Vikings on Anglesey. 'Small Things Forgotten' considers the archaeological significance of single finds such as medieval toys and finger rings. Finally, 'Our Precious Past' looks at the importance of responsible reporting by amateurs, and the difficulties presented by unprovenanced objects and illegal trade.