The Near Baldock Temple Treasure

Roman

British Museum

3rd or 4th Century

Hoard comprises of 30 objects: hollow silver female figurine; two cast silver female fore-arms; pair of gold disc brooches; oval gem-set gold clasp; and twelve gold and twelve silver embossed/inscribed votive plaques of various shapes and sizes. The hoard was evidently placed in the ground in a careful and controlled way, probably buried at a time of trouble or unrest. The numerically dominant votive plaques were intended for dedication, at a temple or a shrine, to one or more gods or goddesses. Their inscriptions record the names of several votaries. Many depict the goddess Minerva, however the find is also particularly interesting because of references to a previously unknown goddess, Senua, whose name implies a British origin.

• Medium: gold; silver; silver alloy
• Dimensions: various
• Art Fund Grant: £10000 ( Total: £35,000)
• ArtFunded in: 2003
• Vendor: Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Provenance

Found by a metal detectorist in a ploughed field near Baldock, Hertfordshire, September 2002; declared Treasure 2002.

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