The Burton Hoard - BY JOHN FARGHER - Part II - When the Digging Stopped

Following three full days of concerted effort, to extract each and every component of a hoard of Bronze Age implements and gold jewellery from a Welsh farm field, Billy May, Joe Perry, and Peter Skelly paused for some very serious thought. It was now Monday 26th January 2004, and they felt sure that, without a geophysical investigation and a fully-fledged archaeological dig, the site had offered up all that was within range of their detectors. By themselves, they could do no more. The first object, a single bronze palstave axe head, had surfaced a mere eight days before. Subsequent finds of two other bronze implements, ten wonderful objects of ancient gold, and part of a ceramic container, together with the hard-hitting realisation that a significant hoard was involved, were all events of the previous three days. As the terms of the 1996 Treasure Act allow fourteen days to report a find to the coroner, from that point in time at which it is recognised as potential treasure, the trio knew that they had plenty of time within the legal limit in which to gather their thoughts, do a little research, take some more photographs, and clearly define the contents of a sensible and workable action plan. This was not easy as the events of the past week meant emotions were running high, the enormity of the situation was still overshadowing their every waking moment, and a thousand different thoughts and memories were hard to collect into a single logical sequence. But, they did it.

Even more unnerving than the legal obligation to report their good fortune, was the overwhelming sense of responsibility the three felt for the security of archaeological material that they knew was of great national importance. For the time being, each finder kept his portion of the hoard at home. Billy and Joe had both bronze and gold artefacts in their care, while Peter’s torc, pendant, and two rings were all of gold. Despite his initial limited ambition, Peter had not recovered the simple bronze axe head he had yearned for. It would have to remain on his wish list, for future reference. By Wednesday 28th January, just three days after their final heart-stopping recovery, the hoard finders had held a protracted conversation with Trevor Austin of the NCMD, and identified John Hughes the Coroner responsible for Wrexham as their primary reporting point. As a matter of courtesy, however, they first phoned Mark Lodwick, the Portable Antiquities Co-ordinator for Wales, at National Museums and Galleries of Wales, Cardiff Museum. The introductions were cordial and chatty but, as the background to the discovery and the finds were listed for him, a deep silence descended on the Welsh end of the line. “In that moment, I knew I had his full attention”, is how Peter Skelly describes the period of quiet. When the silence was eventually broken, Mark could hardly contain himself. Questions and answers came thick and fast…… “Can you give me your best description of the items in the assemblage?”, “What condition is it in?” , “Where precisely was it found?” and “Where is it currently lodged?” The somewhat bizarre answer he received to this last question left Mark Lodwick in a state of profound shock. Having confirmed that the Wrexham Coroner was, indeed, the key figure in the reporting process, he suggested that contact should be made with him, as quickly as possible, in order that the material could be gathered safely into one central secure place. John Hughes, the Coroner, was amazed. But, he was also delighted to be involved, gave instruction that the treasure should be brought to him at a time convenient to the finders, and suggested the following Monday. The trio were a little taken aback by the loose time scale and the extended period of their responsibility afforded by this arrangement, but the Coroner was quite firm in his instruction. On the morning of Thursday 29th January, a short series of phone calls were exchanged between Mark Lodwick, the Coroner, and the finders. Mark and the finders wanted the material delivered into the care and security of Finds Liaison Officer, Nick Herepath, and the vaults at NMandG’s Liverpool Museum. The Coroner, pleasant but firm, wanted his original instruction followed to the letter. After a few further brief but diplomatic negotiations, however, the Liverpool Museum arrangement was agreed as a temporary measure of necessity, provided that the hoard was delivered into the Coroner’s keeping on the following Monday, as requested. In the interim, it was not to go, via any circuitous route, to Cardiff Museum or anywhere else. In fact, because of their professional commitments, Billy, Joe, and Peter were unable to deliver their Tesco carrier bags filled with treasure to Liverpool Museum until late that evening. The museum remained open beyond its normal closing time in order to receive them, and issued a Treasure Receipt before they left. While these, and other lesser events, were taking place, phone calls and e-mails between Cardiff Museum and the three finders were being exchanged at almost hourly intervals. Photographs of the recoveries were sent and received for examination, identification, and admiration. The national and international significance of the hoard was becoming more and more apparent, and a subtle blend of awe, pleasure, surprise and excitement infected everyone involved. An arrangement for a site meeting, investigation, and dig was agreed for the following Tuesday and Wednesday, 3rd and 4th of February. A visit to the farm on Sunday, the first day of February, allowed finders and farmer to talk through the detail of recent events, consider their implications for the future, and agree the proposed site investigations during the coming week. No differences of opinion or potential problems emerged. The remaining few hours of daylight were spent detecting on the hoard field but produced nothing remotely connected to the hoard. On Monday 2nd of February, in the company of Nick Herepath, the treasure was transported by the finders, from Liverpool to Wrexham. Deputy Coroner, John Gittins, escorted the group across the road to the museum where the treasure was unpacked, checked, and subjected to comments of great admiration.

SURVEYING THE SPOT

ADDING OUR EXPERTISE

The Dig

Weather conditions for the two-day site investigation and dig were atrocious. Torrential rain was experienced for virtually the whole time. All three finders, together with Nick Herepath, were joined by Mark Lodwick and Adam Gwilt, the Curator of the Bronze Age Collections at the National Museum, Cardiff. Mark and Adam would survey the find spot, carry out the investigation, and excavate a test pit in the area of the major recoveries. Visitors to the site during this activity included Alan Watkins, Curator of Wrexham Museum, together with a colleague, the farmer, and members of his family. None of this latter group stayed too long. The rain and mud made sure of that.

FACING THE PRESS

TV INTERVIEWS

In all eventuality, at the end of the investigation, nothing new had been found. It appeared that Billy, Joe, and Peter had been most efficient in their detecting activities and, on this occasion, no hoard material had been missed by them. The exercise was not entirely fruitless, however, as strong bonds of trust, understanding, and friendship were forged between Mark Lodwick, Adam Gwilt, and the three finders, during their closer than normal contact. Adam expressed the opinion that the Burton Hoard (the name given to it by the farmer) was the most important Bronze Age find in Wales since the discovery of the Mold Gold Cape in the early nineteenth century. By itself, this telling comment put the archaeological significance of the hoard into crystal clear perspective. The treasure was now transferred to Cardiff for examination, cleaning, and conservation, and it was agreed by all concerned parties that, for a variety of security reasons including the farmer’s best interests, a shroud of secrecy should surround its recovery until the day of the Coroner’s inquest. By early March, however, this plan had sprung an untraceable leak and the press was laying siege to Cardiff and Wrexham museums in an attempt to add flesh to the bones of wild rumour and fevered speculation. A bald statement merely listing the contents of the hoard, without pictures, was agreed and issued by the museums in an attempt to lift the siege, and this was published both nationally and locally. The dramatic content of the release ensured wide coverage across the media spectrum, and much discussion on hobby internet sites. Inevitably, however, the local press embroidered the hard facts with threads of supposition and, for many weeks, detector users in Wrexham were speculating as to which trio of locals had made the find, and still managed to keep it quiet. Joe Perry, Billy May, and Peter Skelly maintained a discreet silence. The treasure inquest took place before Deputy Coroner, John Gittins, in Flint, North Wales, on Wednesday 5th May 2004. As they arrived at the court building, Joe, Peter, and Billy were surrounded by a bevy of television cameras, radio microphones, newspaper reporters and photographers, from both national and local sources. It was all a little overwhelming for them but, with promises of interviews following the inquest, they made their way into the court. In theory, a treasure inquest can be completed within a few minutes. Once a coroner decides that the material in question falls within the legal definition of treasure, identifies where it was found, and by whom, he can declare “Treasure”, and that is it. John Gittins, on the other hand, read out all eighteen pages of the detailed Archaeological Report, allowed Peter Skelly to give a blow by blow account of the recovery process, and then invited each of the three finders into the witness box to list the individual objects recovered by them. This exercise was mainly for the media, as Mark Lodwick had already kept the finders fully informed at every step in the compilation of the Archaeological Report.

HEADLINES IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS

After almost an hour, but before his inevitable verdict of “Treasure”, the coroner commended the honesty of the finders, their understanding of archaeological processes, and the way in which they had handled their end of the affair. These comments echoed similar praise from archaeologists and museums’ staff within the pages of the Archaeological Report, which acknowledged that the conduct of the finders was exemplary, thus setting an example for others to follow.

SPEECH BY THE FIRST MINISTER FOR WALES

Such public praise and recognition gave the red-faced trio a great sense of pride in their personal achievements, and their chosen hobby. Detector users on the side of the angels! For more than an hour after the court hearing, the finders were engulfed in a whirl of media attention. Singly, and together, they appeared before television cameras and microphones, posed for photographs, and repeated their story again and again, re-living the excitement of every moment. Adam Gwilt fulfilled a similar role for NMandG of Wales, Cardiff Museum. There was no bad press, no snide remarks, no hidden agendas aired. Every question and every account was fair and honest. The Daily Mail made one mistake, which the finders are ready to accept was accidental. Before recovering the hoard, the three had made far better finds than the “Only bottle tops” attributed to them in the national daily. Later, when speaking of the massive media attention they had experienced, all three finders expressed deep satisfaction at the coverage, but Billy and Peter named their favourite example as a studio interview given by Joe Perry to Radio Merseyside. They reckoned that it encapsulates everything they had all experienced and felt.

OPENING NIGHT HOSPITALITY

In recognition of their contribution to Welsh archaeology and history, and their faultless handling of the Burton Hoard, Adam Gwilt, on behalf of NMandG of Wales, invited Joe, Billy and Peter, together with their wives and families, to the celebratory opening of the “Buried Treasure” Exhibition in Cardiff on 17th May. An ‘Invitation Only’ affair, the evening gathering was attended by the First Minister for Wales and other civic dignitaries. The finders were feted at a champagne reception that was followed by a traditional “Roman Banquet”. It was a truly memorable evening. The following day, before returning home, the party from Merseyside was treated to a guided tour of the Cardiff Museum. This included the behind-the-scenes archives, conservation rooms, and underground security vaults. Most pleasing was a private viewing of the Burton Hoard which they had last seen in February. They were left in little doubt that their contribution to Welsh Heritage was appreciated at the highest levels.

THE COLLECTION IN IT'S NEW HOME

In the intervening months, while waiting for the sitting of the Treasure Valuation Committee, and refusing to speculate publicly on possible award levels, certain thoughts must have crossed the minds of the finders. Their hoard is from the Penard period of the Middle Bronze Age (1300-1100BC), and contains ten separate objects of gold of between eighty and ninety-eight percent purety. In addition, there are the bronze and ceramic elements. The twisted wire bracelet and beehive pendant have no parallels in Britain or Ireland and are described as “unique”. The whole assemblage is extremely rare because of the quality and range of artefacts it contains, and is recognised as having great national and international significance. Taking all of this into account, I have no doubt, whatsoever, that the finders, the metal detecting hobby, and the national press will await the announcement of the Treasure Valuation Committee’s recommended award with bated breath and great anticipation. The archaeologists and museums involved will be less interested in monetary value, however. They will be more concerned with the content of the hoard, the new academic information it brings with it, its conservation, its public display, and its boost to the prestige of Welsh Archaeology and the Welsh Heritage.

With permission from The Searcher, John Fargher and the boys (Peter Skelly, Joe Perry, and Billy May). Copyright co-owned by the writer and The Searcher.

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