They were the treasured possessions of a wealthy Roman matron who tried to flee while the warrior queen Boudica and her army of Britons laid siege to Camulodunum, the first capital of Roman Britain.
Gold and silver jewellery was placed in bags and a wooden box and buried under the floor of the woman’s home, where it lay for nearly 2,000 years until it was uncovered by archaeologists this week during construction work at a store in Colchester High Street in Essex. There is still a mystery over why the owner did not return, but many captured Roman women were taken to “sacred groves”, where they were put to death.
The treasure stayed hidden beneath half a metre of ashes and debris, all that was left after the city was burnt to the ground in AD61.
The intertwined gold bangles, rings, earrings and chains, coins, and a silver bracelet are now being separated in a laboratory. Philip Crummy, of Colchester Archaeological Trust, said that the find was of national importance.
A coroner will decide if the hoard qualifies as treasure trove.