Treasure for Historians

Yes, there were coins, and yes, there was jewelry uncovered at the site near Dereham, where archaeologists have been exploring the future location of a housing development before construction begins. But what makes the finds particularly intriguing is what the artifacts can tell the archaeologist and the historian. Roman coins, Saxon halfpennies and Venetian silver all suggest that trade was very busy in the Dereham area from the earliest settlements. The presence of Middle Saxon artifacts dating to the 7th through 9th centuries indicate that occupation of the area continued on from the post-Roman era into the early Middle Ages and beyond. The location of the finds in relation to later buildings indicate whether and how settlement shifted over time.

Find out more about the discoveries and what they reveal in the article by Aura Sabadus at EDP24.