Buried Treasure
75Is This Old Gold from Rome or Boadicea's Lost Treasure?
Disclaimer: to the best of my memory this adventure happened in the mid to late 1990's. The husband himself told me the story back then and my eldest brother reminded me of it again just yesterday.
Once upon a time there was a man and woman who were married. Happily, I think. Now he was a security guard or even maybe a fireman in one of the larger cities in Australia. She, the wife was a little younger and more studious than he – but they lived in harmony as she completed her medical degree in Australia and then went on to study the Law.
As she needed to complete her legal studies in London they all packed up (children included) and made the big move across the world to this city of great learning. Everything was going smoothly, the wife was studying, the children were in school and the husband was finding new hobbies to keep him occupied.
He was most interested in early Roman history and found to his great delight that many of the roads in England were previously built by the Roman Empire and that there were many legendary stories abounding – fact or fiction – about lost roman treasures and gold coins just waiting for his tender ministrations.
After everyone left each day to attend their various appointments and assignments; he would study his Roman History Guide and learn where the most likely places would be to find said gold, what type of land mass to look for, and indeed what shape the land would take on with its buried treasure lurking beneath the surface, just lying there waiting to be discovered! In fact he became quite adept and knowledgeable in this subject. He was a most enthusiastic hobbyist.
At last the time was ripe and he was ready to embark on his big adventures in the realm of fossicking, so off he went and bought a brand new,shiny, metal detector. It was big and brilliant - basically did everything but cook the dinner. Right, he was now equipped and eager to seek his fortune quite literally.
His date of choice for the investigation of one particular site arrived but unfortunately this date also brought with it large black storm clouds. However he was determined to keep his appointment with fate and to put into earthly practice his virtual theories. His studies, of both the mental and physical variety, of likely places to fossick had brought him to this particular site, his most carefully chosen spot. And a very good choice it was. The land shape looked right; the site was untouched but was pretty perfect in an historical sort of way. He thought hehad picked a winner. Then wouldn’t you know it, the storm clouds decided to burst out in a watery fury and he was drenched before he even had a chance to get the metal detector out of its case and get it to point out where X could mark the spot.
He turned tail thinking that the weather was not quite right for treasure hunting- a little damp, but knowing that he would come back later in the week. Well unfortunately later in the week turned into the next week and when he returned to his well researched site, someone had beaten him to it and there was a gaping hole where indeed treasure had been found and so he found, not just a few gold coins either!
There was some talk that it was the lost gold coin from Boadicea’s trunk of gold coins that had been unearthed – the box was somewhat damaged with some of its corners missing but the gold was intact, hurriedly buried and left by her as she was fleeing the marauding Romans who were intent of relieving the local inhabitants of all their goods and gold so adding to their magnificent spoils of war...
So how would you feel? You have been studying the various methods most suited for finding lost plunder , sussing out the perfect site and then the English weather gets in the way – this situation is then topped off by some other person, who equipped with their own trusty metal detector, comes along and plucks your findings right out from under your nose....
I guess that you would be feeling somewhat annoyed with yourself for not staying there - even with the rain thundering out of the sky at a great rate of knots – to find that elusive pot of gold at the end of your rainbow!
Copyright: a.a.gallagher 2009
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Comments
I think you are perfectly right Christoph a bummer it is! - unfortunately they are back in Aus. now and we didn't have the Roman plundering thing going on with the subsequent gold burials happening!...although we do/did have gold lying around waiting to be found... particularly in Victoria... thanks for your comment ..cheers
It sounds like a story which has lost nothing in the telling. It's vastly unlikely that someone would, by reading books and studying maps, just happen to select a site which held gold coins, when in the UK for a short while.
In addition, I'm not aware of any major gold find from that era in the UK in the late 1990s. There was a recent big find, the first for 150-odd years.
Further, I've found this:
"During the uprising led by Boudica and in the following Roman suppression, many of the Iceni deposited hoards of coins in the ground for safe-keeping. Over ten hoards have been discovered in Norfolk from this period, and half of them contain mixed Iceni silver units and Roman denarii. The most recent hoard was found at Forncett in Norfolk in 1996 with 381 silver coins of which 336 were Iceni, and 45 were Roman. The Roman coins from the Forncett hoard date from 128 BC through to AD 36 and no doubt the Celtic Iceni coins also span a similar period. These hoards of the Boudican period are clustered in south east Norfolk and the north of Suffolk. There are clusters around Norwich and around Thetford, spreading eastwards along the River Waveney."
Hi London Girl - seems that I wasn't clear in my re-telling of the story - but his "almost find" was in either Suffolk or Norfolk - what part I don't know - and also his wife was studying there for the best part of 18 months so as he was not working in the literal sense,he had plenty of time to tramp around fossicking....cheers
Thanks for this London Girl
re"The most recent hoard was found at Forncett in Norfolk in 1996 with 381 silver coins of which 336 were Iceni, and 45 were Roman. The Roman coins from the Forncett hoard date from 128 BC through to AD 36 and no doubt the Celtic Iceni coins also span a similar period. These hoards of the Boudican period are clustered in south east Norfolk and the north of Suffolk"
I thought about when I actually knew this man and it was at work - in a government department - I left this position in Oct 1997 - and they had left for England quite a long time before this event....so I think your 1996 reference might actually refer to his "almost find" - the story is actually true but I am fuzzy on the details after all this time....but i do remember how upset he was at his importunate actions....
thanks for making me think about dates and places...cheers
Silver find, not gold (-:
I do think it's all a bit unlikely, sorry!
gold or silver London Girl who actually cares?..so without being rude but, as obviously I am not English, and am without all those deadly accurate details to the story which can be disputed by you as is your right, and the right of whoever else cares to enter the discourse; but what I do know is that is because the chap was not a popular fellow, in fact known to be right p...k.. no one was too upset that he lost out so dreadfully; in fact this story flew around at a great rate of knots - so apart from the fact that as I know the story to be quite true other than the colour of the coin, (that gold or silver aspect), I will not accept your premise of dishonesty ..I cannot agree with you on the small matter of the colour of the coin..because as I see it a fortune was lost no matter the colour of the coinage - the dates fit (1996)- the county fits - the colourful history fits etc...so if the mists of time colour this matter of the misaligned coin then I accept that - that is my mistake or ignorance of fact..thanks for your comments ...cheers.
It is all just wildly improbable. I'm entitled to think that.
of course you are entitled not to accept this tale and that is all okay London Girl - it is your history after all...I am just repeating a story I was told that captivated me with its potential for a huge win and then the subsequent loss through issues beyond that one person's control! ...cheers
fair enough. To me, it just sounds like the massive fish that got away....
there you are so right....and as I understand it, it couldn't have happened to a nicer person... cheers.
I would say, if I'm not the one buried, I still have another shot to finding that treasure. I would also say, I walked in with nothing and I'm sure I'll be walking out the same way, so no need to feel bad about it.
exactly goldentoad - I would still be looking for another box or pot of gold if i had invested so much time and effort into this project and who knows (& I don't) he may be still searching as we speak! - but a near miss is always a near miss so I do feel sorry for the guy -bit like the fish that got away -and it does make a great story to pass on -There is an the old saying "there are no pockets in a shroud"so I don't think I'll be taking anything anywhere when I go either!....cheers
That's a bummer. You could be rich and famous by now. :(
Unfortunately RGraf -there was never any chance of me having any claim whatsoever on the "almost find" - barely knew the chap but thanks for both your comment & the thought! cheers
Hi Ajcor,
Sounds like your ex-colleague missed out on some treasure. I agree with LG that he'd have to have been pretty lucky to have identified the exact spot where a Roman horde might be concealed, but then instinct and luck do play an enormous part in many of these discoveries.
I live very close to the site of a Roman villa, and once dug up part of a pot in my garden, which I thought might have been Roman. I've not found any gold so far though, but I keep hoping!
Thanks for your comment Amanda - I don't know that he identified it - more that he found a spot that looked promising and then decided to come back when the weather improved - I think if it was an identifier as such, he would definitely stayed and done some digging! well no one knows what is going to happen in the future and in his case it's a shame he didn't! - some other lucky person found the same spot and the rest is history! cheers and thanks
Hey ajcor, I didn't get to read this hub but I will soon, I promise. I was just wanting to get a few of my favorite hubbers together this evening for a hubjacking. Are you interested?
yes - what do you have in mind gm? i have to go into Canberra in about 1 and a half hours...
Ok, I haven't got everyone together yet and haven't found a hub yet but I will let you know when I do.
ok
CrR can't get on until after 8, I have no idea what time that is for you.
GM it is 12.41pm right now and it is 20.41 in New York according to the world clock - I have to leave to get get my husband from the airport so will just keep an eye on things and join in as much as i can before going! cheers
sounds good Aj. see you soon.
Oh my word! I'm so glad I followed Gwendy over here. What a story this is ajcor! I would have had a fit. How horrible! I'm kind of speechless because what can you say about a man who went through all that research and work only to have someone else get to the treasure first because of a storm. :(
back at you GM nice to see you too....
Pam it is a sort of awful frustating and sad story - even if i have managed to get some of the details out of kilter.. in the re-telling....lol thanks for dropping in How are those passaportes going? - red and gold you said... and the name of the duchy?
I say all is fair in lover and war and treasure-hunting. You can't fight fate - but you can tempt it even at the threat of the English weather! Nice story ajcor :D
Gosh, my comments have been getting lost all day. If this comes through twice, delete it.
LOL, what's a duchy? Yes, red and gold seems quite royal. :)
So what kind of hub are we looking to jack? I'll bet Cris would enjoy some fun too.
Oh pick me! pick me! pick me! fun is my middle name :D
a duchy is like a principality but maybe a little smaller...Monaco would fit the bill nicely - maybe we ask them to move - what do think? a goer..
I was waiting on GM to advise - I just read one about the strange ways of white people - very tongue in cheek - "God Loves Me" is I think the new hubber - but I am unsure how it would go for a hjubjacking - take a look - don't want to offend anyone ....but it is amusing...
http://hubpages.com/hub/Stuff-White-People-Like-An
Ajcor, Pam and Cris A, that hub you posted above looks hilarious. I think we should pick it. I'm ready when you are. I'm heading over now. The others will join when they can.
my comment disappeared from here - a duchy is like a principality - like Monaco - I know lets get them to move - and then cede/give it to the Princes of Muse. I think they could like this!
What about http://hubpages.com/hub/Stuff-White-People-Like-An
or maybe it has the capacity to offend the new hubber - God Loves Me - If you think this is the case then best not go there - but she does sound like she has a sense of humour.... don't want to offend anyone - at all - ever ...just have a laugh...
Thanks for your comment CrisA - I read it back at the ranch came on over to answer and it has gone - woe is me - a thought - maybe you might like to comment again... where oh where has my little comment gone? - very odd....
ajcor
Pam has the same problem with hers. Hmmmm a conspiracy must be going on! Probably the male muse wannabes who think they are not shortlisted are doing this! :D
Cris, we are already doing the jacking, hurry up!
LOL Cris!
I'm on my way! *rubbing hands together in glee*
Gwendymom
I'm still looking for some nasty white jokes! LOL But will be right there as soon as!
Look at the glint in Pam's eyes - scary! LOL
Comment for the burried treasure hub: right place, right time, right results. Thanks for sharing!
CrisA bit late in answering but I think you may be right and it is the male muses banding together to form a union to stop un-mused comments from getting through to the hubber!...
Pam and GM - it sort of went off - didn't it?
Game Set Match wouldn't you say jxb7076 - thanks for your comment...cheers
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Christoph Reilly says:
11 months ago
Dang, ajcor, that's a heartbreaker! I'd be really, really bummed out. But after a couple of days, I say to myself, "See? I was right." And then I'd go on looking for the next one. The moral of the story is: Don't stop digging for your buried treasure in life just because of a little rain. (Or something like that.)