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Final coin removed from Jersey's huge Celtic hoard | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The last of nearly 70,000 coins has been removed from one of the largest Celtic hoards in the world. | |
The cache - thought to date from about 30-50 BC - was found in Jersey by two metal detector enthusiasts after a 30-year search sparked by a tip-off. | |
Experts from Jersey Heritage removed the coins one by one from the field in Grouville for three years, with the last set extracted on Friday. | |
They said there was still work to do, such as cleaning and logging the finds. | They said there was still work to do, such as cleaning and logging the finds. |
More on the coin story, and other news from around the Channel Islands | More on the coin story, and other news from around the Channel Islands |
"This is a significant milestone for the team," said Neil Mahrer, senior conservator. "It has been painstaking but thoroughly intriguing work, which has delivered some very unexpected and amazing finds along the way. | "This is a significant milestone for the team," said Neil Mahrer, senior conservator. "It has been painstaking but thoroughly intriguing work, which has delivered some very unexpected and amazing finds along the way. |
"There is still plenty to do, and I am sure the hoard will continue to surprise us as we clean and record the material." | "There is still plenty to do, and I am sure the hoard will continue to surprise us as we clean and record the material." |
The hoard is believed to have been buried by the Coriosolitae tribe of French Celts as they fled from the invading forces of the Roman Empire. | |
It was excavated by a team from the Societe Jersiais, Jersey Heritage and Guernsey Museum in 2012. | It was excavated by a team from the Societe Jersiais, Jersey Heritage and Guernsey Museum in 2012. |
Known as Catillon II, the Iron Age coin hoard is about six times bigger than any other Celtic hoard found in the world. | Known as Catillon II, the Iron Age coin hoard is about six times bigger than any other Celtic hoard found in the world. |
It also includes a large number of gold neck torques and other pieces of jewellery, as well as glass beads, a leather purse and a woven bag of silver and gold work. | It also includes a large number of gold neck torques and other pieces of jewellery, as well as glass beads, a leather purse and a woven bag of silver and gold work. |
Now the hoard has been separated, it will be valued and Jersey's government will vote on whether to pay to keep it on the island. | |
When it was first discovered, its value was estimated at about £10m. | When it was first discovered, its value was estimated at about £10m. |
Reg Mead and Richard Miles spent three decades searching in fields near where it was found after being told folk tales of ancient coins being found nearby. | Reg Mead and Richard Miles spent three decades searching in fields near where it was found after being told folk tales of ancient coins being found nearby. |
It was unearthed in 2012 and quickly made headlines around the world because it was said it could change the way experts view Iron Age trade. | |
Mr Miles said: "There was something there that drew us to it. Every Sunday, we would give it a try. | |
"The original story said the pot had been discovered on the tree line and we saw on old maps an old boundary that had been taken out. | "The original story said the pot had been discovered on the tree line and we saw on old maps an old boundary that had been taken out. |
"I found the first coin - and by the end of the first day we found 20 coins. | "I found the first coin - and by the end of the first day we found 20 coins. |
"Gradually, the tally began to climb." | "Gradually, the tally began to climb." |
That led them to find the hoard even deeper in the ground. | That led them to find the hoard even deeper in the ground. |
"We were literally scooping out the earth it was so deep," said Mr Miles. | "We were literally scooping out the earth it was so deep," said Mr Miles. |
"Reg said 'Give it one final try' and he forced the spade into the ground as deeply as he could and it struck something solid. | "Reg said 'Give it one final try' and he forced the spade into the ground as deeply as he could and it struck something solid. |
"You could hear the metal [striking the] hoard." |