The discovery of the Silchester hoard is a fascinating archaeological find that sheds light on the late Roman period in Britain. Situated southwest of the walled Roman town of Silchester, this hoard was uncovered during plowing activities in 1985 and further explored during the winter of 1986-87. The hoard includes various valuable items, particularly gold rings and coins, and offers insights into the historical context of the time.
One of the notable finds is an elaborate gold ring featuring strands of beaded gold wire forming a filigree hoop and a large engraved gemstone (intaglio). Such rings were common in the last decades of the Roman period in Britain and were widespread throughout the Roman Empire. The intaglio on this ring is made of onyx and depicts a satyr and a small cupid. Nearby, four late Roman silver coins were discovered.
Subsequent excavations revealed even more coins, bringing the total number to 55. Most of these coins were heavily rusted and broken silver specimens from the late 4th century AD. A significant portion of them, at least 13, were "trimmed," a practice that can be dated to the reign of Constantine II (407-11 A.D.). Additionally, four more rings were found, including two complete gold rings and two fragmentary rings (one gold and one silver). It is challenging to determine whether the incomplete and fragmentary rings were originally part of the jeweler's hoard or if they were damaged after being concealed, possibly due to plow damage.
One of the complete gold rings stands out for its embossed bezel with a glass stone imitating onyx, featuring a satyr carrying a hare. This ring is large and heavy. The other complete but deformed gold ring is smaller and decorated with a reused glass bead. Unfortunately, only fragmentary and mineralized remains remain of the silver ring, which was also adorned with an imitation onyx cast glass stone depicting a seated bearded man reading from a scroll, believed to be a philosopher.
Some of these remarkable artifacts from the Silchester hoard are on display at the Willis Museum in Basingstoke. The composition of this hoard is comparable to the late Romano-British Thetford hoard discovered in Norfolk in 1979. For instance, two rings from Thetford resemble the gold ring from Silchester with a glass bead, and a gold plate buckle from Thetford also depicts a satyr. These hoards provide valuable insights into the material culture and social context of the late Roman period in Britain.