Country’s Fourth Largest Bronze Age Hoard found in the County

By Jennifer Jackson, Finds Liaison Officer for Kent

More than 350 Late Bronze Age objects, found in a field in the Boughton Malherbe area near Maidstone, have been officially named as Treasure.

The collection of tools, weapons, ornaments and ingots, found by two metal detector enthusiasts, are thought to be from 875-800BC. The hoard is particularly unusual because the objects are thought to have originated in north-western and northern France, but then been brought to England and later buried in Kent.

The finds were reported to KCC’s Heritage Conservation Team and taken to the British Museum in London, where they were studied by a team of researchers who prepared a report for the coroner.

Maidstone Museum would like to have the finds for its collections, so the market value of the items will have to be determined by the independent Treasure Valuation Committee. The museum will then have to raise this sum to acquire the hoard. Collections Manager from Maidstone Museum Giles Guthrie said: “There are a number of hoards of this period known about from south-east England and north-western France, but this discovery helps to highlight the massive resources that were at the disposal of these people 3,000 years ago. It would represent a significant addition to our collection and make an excellent tool to illustrate the activities of Kentish folk in the Bronze Age.”

Dr. Ben Roberts, Curator of European Bronze Age, British Museum said “This is a spectacular find of a vast Bronze Age hoard. What is perhaps most interesting is that these objects are far more common in northern France than south-east England. Several have never even been found in England before.”