Collectively, the 50+ hoards that we have chosen to study contain thousands of coins and hundreds of other artefacts. For a number of these hoards, the burial containers also survive. To fully study these hoards, our project brings together a team of scholars who specialise in researching the different types of material that are found in hoards. Here’s a little introduction to the team and what object(s) each member will be focusing on.
Ellen Swift (Project PI)
Ellen Swift specialises in the study of artefacts and will be examining objects including spoons, rings and bracelets deposited in over thirty of the hoards. Ellen will be looking at the objects first-hand and recording aspects including the measurements, metal composition and the level of wear to an artefact. Ellen will also draw comparisons between the artefacts under study with material culture from well-dated grave contexts in continental Europe to date the artefacts more accurately than they are at present.
James Gerrard (Co-PI)
James Gerrard (Newcastle University) will apply his expertise in late Roman vessels and study the twenty or so surviving hoard containers. Many of the containers in museum collections have never been studied and will be fully documented for the first time. James will study the lifespan of the containers to consider their use and age before their deposition. His study will also establish their provenance from their form and material and contribute to our knowledge of Roman craft production and culture.
Eleanor Ghey (Co-PI)
Eleanor Ghey (British Museum) is Curator: Hoards in the Money and Medals department at the British Museum and has extensive expertise and knowledge of coin hoard material. Eleanor will be providing key support to the project team over the course of the next three years and will be working closely with Kelly in the reassessment of the coins from the hoards under study.
Kelly Clarke-Neish (Post-doctoral Researcher)
Kelly Clarke-Neish (British Museum) is a post-doctoral researcher for the project and will be examining the coins from the hoards. Kelly will be undertaking a focused study of the clipping of silver coins, a phenomenon that emerged at the end of Roman Britain. Kelly and Eleanor will also assess the wider corpus of Late Roman hoards containing only coins to contextualise the mixed hoards and draw conclusions on changing function of coinage and the nature of the economy at the end of Late Roman Britain.