Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum have successfully acquired an Iron Age hoard after a crowdfunding campaign which raised £11,725.
The hoard includes an enamelled horse brooch, the handle of a patera (a shallow dish used for drinking), a silver Roman coin, and a lead weight, all of which are believed to be over 2,000 years old. The items were discovered in August 2020 by a metal detectorist in Rotherfield Peppard, near Henley-on-Thames. Found inside a sealed pottery urn, the artefacts were declared as treasure under the Treasure Act for England and Wales.
244 donors contributed to the crowdfunding campaign, which attracted the support of numerous academics, including Dr Rena McGuire, Dr Sophia Adams, Professor Gary Locke, and Dr Wendy Morrison. The expertise of these academics helped explain the significance of the collection of artefacts.
Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council Neil Fawcett said: “This hoard, buried nearly 2,000 years ago, really belongs to the people of Oxfordshire, so it’s fantastic to see the public rally around this campaign. Their support shows how important Oxfordshire’s heritage is to our residents and beyond the county.
“We look forward to seeing this very special hoard on display at the museum once it has been conserved. By acquiring the collection, it is safeguarded for the public forever.”
The council’s museum service is Oxfordshire’s repository for archaeological finds and was given the first opportunity to acquire the collection. A late surge in donations helped exceed the fundraising target.
Edward Dowler, Chairman of Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum, said: “The Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum are pleased to have hosted the museum’s first crowdfunder campaign. We are very grateful to the 244 people who donated. In exceeding the fundraising target, the museum team will be able to deliver enhanced conservation and create an engaging display. We are all looking forward to seeing the end result.”
The collection will eventually be displayed at the council-run Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock. While the artefacts undergo conservation, visitors of the museum will be able to hold 3D-printed replicas.
Oxfordshire County Council are offering a special private viewing to those who contributed £20 or more to the campaign, which will take place before the collection goes on public display. Those who donated more than £200 will be named as supporters in the council’s archive.
