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Excavations in a French village unearthed a foundation containing a large number of Roman coins. | Credit: © Simon Ritz, Inrap
Archaeologists in France have discovered three ancient storage jars filled with thousands of Roman coins. The pots were buried in pits in the floor of an old settlement house 1,700 years ago, possibly as a kind of safe or piggy bank.
The three jars, known as amphorae, were found during excavations conducted by the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) in the village of Senon in northeastern France and may contain more than 40,000 Roman coins in total.
The first hoard contained an estimated 83 pounds (38 kg) of coins, which “corresponds to approximately 23,000 to 24,000 coins,” Vincent GenevieveA numismatist from INRAP who is analyzing the hoards told Live Science in an email.
The second jug and its coins weighed about 110 pounds (50 kilograms), “and, based on the 400 coins recovered from the neck, which were broken when discovered, it could have contained 18,000 to 19,000 coins,” Genevieve said. The third foundation was recovered in ancient times and only three coins remained in the pit where the vessel once sat.
A bird’s-eye view of an excavated area in Senone, France. It was excavated by the Regional Archaeological Service (SRA) and INRAP, and led by Simon Ritz at INRAP. | Credit: © Anthony Robin, Inwrap
About 30 coin hoards are already known in the area, so the real significance of this find lies not in the sheer number of coins but in the detailed information on where the hoards were found.
“Contrary to what one might think at first glance, it is not certain that these are ‘treasures’ that were hidden during a period of insecurity,” according to the November 26 translation. statement From INRAP. Experts believe the amphorae were buried between 280 and 310, based on the date of the coins.
The hoard contains coins bearing busts of the emperors Victorinus, Tetricus I and his son Tetricus II, the so-called emperors. Gallic Empirewho ruled independently in Gaul and the surrounding provinces Roman Empire From 260 to 274, until it was reunified by Emperor Aurelian in 274.
Hidden treasure in a hurry or long-term savings?
A researcher excavates one of the 1,800-year-old coin hoards. | Credit: © Lino Mocki, Inwrap
Amphorae filled with coins were carefully sunk into well-made pits inside the living room of a residence. The foundation shells were level with the ground and therefore easily accessible as a kind of ancient piggy-bank.
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“In two cases, the presence of some coins stuck to the side of the jar clearly indicates that they were deposited after the vase was buried, when the pit was not yet filled with sediment,” according to statement.
Accessible jars suggest the owners were using them as a long-term savings vehicle rather than a hastily concealed hoard. Within this residential district were stone buildings with underfloor heating, basements and workshops with stoves. There was also a Roman fort nearby.
At the beginning of the fourth century, a great fire destroyed the settlement. Although the settlement was reestablished before a second fire caused permanent abandonment, the coin hoards were lost for nearly two millennia.
