Winchester Hoard

51°03′37″N 1°19′45″W / 51.060386°N 1.329201°W / 51.060386; -1.329201

The Winchester Hoard is a hoard of Iron Age gold found in a field in the Winchester area of Hampshire, England, in 2000, by a retired florist and amateur metal detectorist, Kevan Halls. It was declared treasure and valued at £350,000—the highest reward granted under the Treasure Act 1996 at that time.

The hoard consists of two sets of jewellery of a very high purity of gold dating from 75 to 25 BCE. Although, the items pre-date the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 CE, the manufacturing technology was Roman rather than Celtic. The total weight of the items is nearly 1,160 g (41 oz).

The find was described as "the most important discovery of Iron Age gold objects" for fifty years; and the items were probably an "expensive", "diplomatic gift". The brooches alone were "the third discovery of its kind from Britain".

The Winchester Hoard is now housed at the British Museum in London.

The hoard was discovered near Winchester over a series of trips to a farmer's ploughed field in September, October, and December, 2000 by retired florist and amateur metal detectorist Kevan Halls.

The first discovery, which was of the brooches, was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, and archaeologists attached to the British Museum were able to excavate the find site to ascertain the historical context of the find. No evidence of a settlement or temple, by way of architectural remnants, was found. It was more likely that the hoard was buried "on top of a small hill ... covered with trees".

The hoard was declared treasure following a coroner's inquest, and later valued at £350,000, which was shared between the finder and landowner under the Treasure Act 1996 – the highest reward granted under that Act at that time. It was also the first time the context of a find was investigated by the British Museum in conjunction with said Act.