The Hoxne Hoard at the British Museum: Uncovering Britain’s

 

The Hoxne Hoard at the British Museum: Uncovering Britain’s Greatest Roman Treasure"

Keywords & SEO-Phrases:

Hoxne Hoard British Museum

Roman Britain treasure hoard

Roman gold and silver coins UK display

Empress pepper pot Hoxne

Late Roman jewellery discoveries

Roman hoard Suffolk 1992

Proposed Outline & Key Points

Introduction

Brief introduction of what the Hoxne Hoard is (date, significance).

Why it's a highlight in the British Museum collection.

Discovery & Archaeological Context

How and when it was discovered (Eric Lawes, 1992). 

The Roman Empire

The manner in which it was buried, preservation conditions, what the excavation uncovered (e.g. chest, boxes, careful packing). 

Contents of the Hoard

Number and types of coins (gold, silver, how many, approximate dates). 

Other objects: jewellery (necklaces, rings, body chain), tableware (spoons, ladles, vessels), silver handles, “Empress” pepper pot, etc. 

Acquisition by the British Museum and Display

How much it was valued/acquired for, sources of funding. 

Exhibitions: initial display, permanent placement in Room 49 (Roman Britain gallery), objects allow public view. 

Presentation details: the reconstruction of the chest and inner boxes in perspex so visitors can see how it was arranged. 

Artistic, Cultural & Historical Significance

What the hoard tells us about late Roman Britain: economy, wealth, jewellery skills, trade and luxury (e.g. spice trade, as seen in the Empress pepper pot). 

The Byzantine Legacy

The declining Roman authority, political turmoil, and why people might have buried such treasures. 

Highlights & Notable Objects

The “Empress” Pepper Pot: its design, function, and symbolism. 

Gold chains & necklaces, body chain, gold jewellery: craftsmanship and designs. 

The Byzantine Legacy

Silver tigress handle: the animal-handle vessel, niello decoration.

Conservation, Scholarship & Public Education

Cataloguing of coins (Peter Guest, Catherine Johns works). 

Ongoing research: what remains to be learned.

Role in public education: displays, the “Treasure: Finding Our Past” touring exhibition, media pieces like BBC radio/TV. 

The Byzantine Legacy

Conclusion

Summary of the hoard’s importance.

How the display at the British Museum allows both specialists and public to engage with late Roman Britain.

Why the Hoxne Hoard remains a cornerstone in understanding Roman Britain's wealth, artistry, and society.