lead coffin and roman coins from somerset

[ageezer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-42430934

A Roman grave containing a lead coffin and more than 250 Roman coins have been discovered in a field.

The artefacts were found near Ilminster, Somerset, by a member of the Detecting for Veterans group and are believed to date from AD400.

There are about 200 similar lead coffins finds in the country but only six have been previously been discovered in Somerset.

The coins are with the British Museum for cleaning and valuation.

The site will be subject to further archaeological investigations in the new year.

Laura Burnett, the Somerset finds liaison officer, said lead was a "fancy and expensive" way of being buried in Roman times.

"They're probably using locally produced lead from the Mendips - so it might have been a bit cheaper here than in other parts of the county - but it's an expensive thing to be buried in."
'Chuffed to nuts'

Kevin Minto, from Detecting for Veterans - a group for ex-services personnel, discovered the coins and then found the grave when he returned to the site with the county archaeologist, Bob Croft.

Mr Minto said he originally found two coins and then a number of others close by.

"That was when I realised we had a hoard," he said.

"Obviously it's an important find, the archaeologists are chuffed to nuts and they'll do whatever they have to," he added.

[JBM]

This was mentioned on Radio Bristol news this morning.

Well done to the finder a very nice Christmas present. Jerry.

[dig-it-pete]

Thanks for the link - not far from me either

[meandmydreams]

A lovely story. I was on a dig in Italy where one was found. It was known as the Burrito burial because of the shape of the coffin.