Stumbled across a Roman site in the woods

Hey Diggers,
Sunday I went out with Russ and Tom to detect a new stretch of woods. After about 2 hours we each had a couple buckles and other bits and bobs. We were working our way back to the cars and I found a Roman coin. It was rotted and had no details left on it. Then I dug another. Then another. Within 10 minutes I had 9 of them. I called the guys back from the cars and we started searching all over that section of the woods. Tom found 14 coins total, including a Roman silver and a beautiful Celtic coin. Russ found 24 coins including 2 Celtics! I found 41 Rotted Romans--no silver and no Celtics! :shocked02: Totally not fair! Anyway, the coins are so fragile that any attempts at manual cleaning makes them crumble in your hands. I soaked all 41 coins in ammonia for 2 days and then rinsed off the sludge and verdigris. Lo and behold, one of the coins (and only one) still had some detail on it! I have not yet gotten it identified but it has a Celtic style horse on the back. Tom's Roman silver was minted in 79 A.D. and the Celtics are all first century too. Our theory is this was a Roman prayer site, sometimes called a temple although it was probably just a statue they prayed to. Romans would make pilgrimages to these sites and leave a coin offering with their prayers.

We plan to go back of course!

Wow how fortunate are you to have found that spot! You guys must have been on cloud 9 with each beep of the detector!

That must have been exciting. 41 coins! Wow!! :envious:
The one with the detail looks awesome Dave. Congrats!!

Now that's a mind blowing historical site! I can't even imagine finding all those Roman coins in such a small area like that. Do you think there is more there, Dave? Are you planning on returning?

Bucknut said:

You guys must have been on cloud 9 with each beep of the detector!

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It was exciting to get so many coin signals. Every few seconds someone would say "here's another one" as he waved his coil over the target.

Digger Don said:

That must have been exciting. 41 coins! Wow!! :envious:
The one with the detail looks awesome Dave. Congrats!!

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Thanks Don!

Tony Two-Cent said:

Now that's a mind blowing historical site! I can't even imagine finding all those Roman coins in such a small area like that. Do you think there is more there, Dave? Are you planning on returning?

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Yes, we took a blood oath that we would only return when all 3 of us could be there (no solo hunts allowed)! I believe there are probably many more coins and possibly a relic or two to be found there still. I dug a few of the iron signals and they were all Roman nails. My number 1 bucket list item right now is a Roman knife! Very distinctive look (like the one pictured below).

Congrats on all the coin recoveries. Good Luck on the return trip. WD

Wow, what a great site you stumbled on!

Wow. I like the title. I stumbled across....a Roman site. Love hearing your stories and seeing your finds.

Yeah I hate when I stumble and fall into a pile of old coins and relics :envious: I predict on your next hunt back there you will stumble onto some of that shiny stuff....or maybe even that yellow stuff!

Blood oath huh. Pinky swear? I'd bet you'll get a lot of interesting finds there. Don't post any pictures of the site on Youtube. irate:

:shocked05:How cool is that?!! Those first 5 pics look like tombacs and later buckles...the kind we drool over around here :lol:
Did you ever think you had a hoard of Roman coins? Wonderful, Dave!!

Lodge Scent said:

Yeah I hate when I stumble and fall into a pile of old coins and relics :envious:

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My thoughts exactly Jeff. I hate it when I just stumble across c.1st - 2nd century Celtic / Roman sight! :shocked05:

Just a little :envious::envious::envious::cheesysmile:

Great find Dave!!
Congrats!! :grin:

Were the Celtic coins bronze also? Or were there silver units? :drool::drool::drool:

Ill Digger said:

Were the Celtic coins bronze also? Or were there silver units?

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We went back on Sunday. Tom found 2 more Celtics. All 5 Celtics are made of a bronzey material called potin. I didn't find any Celtic coins but I did find an amazing relic. A Roman pole pike!

Awesome finds. The buckles are really nice and look at all those Roman's.

Thats some old history, and that’s a crazy site how old do you think that pike is. Hope you guys go back soon love those pics

Cooper said:

"how old do you think that pike is?"

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Thanks Coop, after electrolysis and thorough examination it looks like the pike is actually early Medieval, perhaps 500 to 1000 A.D.

That medieval pike is a mind blowing find, Dave! Imagine the stories it could tell. You could open your own museum with all the incredible things you have found. Spectacular!

erfect10: