75 treasures have been found around Suffolk in 2022

In 2022, people reported finding 1,378 treasures nationwide, marking the ninth consecutive year that the 1,000 mark has been exceeded, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 

Suffolk has been placed on the list of the counties most fruitful in treasure just after Norfolk, Hampshire and Kent.

Suffolk County Council’s archaeological team dealt with 75 treasure cases last year. 

A gold and enamel finger ring of post-medieval date which is now in Felixstowe Museum, Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service (Image: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service)

Most treasure finds are small items of gold or silver jewellery, such as finger rings or brooches that have been lost in antiquity and are often broken, but we also record coins of various periods and Bronze Age axe hoards. 

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service said: “Suffolk has a rich history. Treasure finds are only a small proportion of the objects being recovered each year, mainly by metal detector users who search for archaeological objects in arable fields as a hobby.  

An early medieval (later 9th century) gold aestal or pointer, used when reading books, which is now in Moyses Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service (Image: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service)

“We also record thousands of non-treasure objects brought into us to identify.  

“It is important that members of the public who search for archaeological objects of any kind follow best practice guidance including arranging to have their objects recorded with us.  

“The information these objects provide is part of our shared heritage and adds to the story of Suffolk.” 

A hoard of 840 gold Iron Age coins, which is now in Ipswich Museum, Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service (Image: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service)

The 1996 Treasure Act explains that treasure is, among others, any metallic object, other than a coin, that is over 300 years old when found, provided that at least 10 percent by weight of metal is a precious metal or any group of two or more metallic objects of any composition of prehistoric date that come from the same find. 

Finders are legally obliged to report all finds of treasure to the coroner within 14 days or within 14 days of the day on which they realised that the find might be a treasure.  

Suffolk County Council advises that anyone who finds anything archaeological, including a potential treasure find, contact the SCC Archaeological Service Finds Recording Team on 01284 741230 or by e-mail at sccasfinds@suffolk.gov.uk. 

Sutton Hoo is Suffolk's most popular treasure site of two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries dating from the 6th to 7th centuries.

The Sutton Hoo ship burial was uncovered in 1939, and was first announced in the EADT on July 29 of that year.

The unearthing of the undisturbed ship burial sent shock waves around the archaeological world.

When the scale of the finds became apparent, there were immediate comparisons with the discovery of Tutankhamun.

Inside the burial mound was the imprint of a decayed ship and a central chamber filled with treasures, military equipment, and textiles, including the iconic Sutton Hoo helmet.

Sutton Hoo helmet, Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

The site is now in the care of the National Trust, with most of the found objects being held by the British Museum.

Recently, evidence of a 23-metre royal hall dating back 1,400 years to the first Kings of East Anglia has been discovered in Suffolk.

The site was found by a community of archaeological excavators in Rendlesham.

A 1,400-year-old royal hall has been discovered in Suffolk, Suffolk County Council (Image: Suffolk County Council)

Foundations of the large and elaborate timber hall built for the Kings, which is about 10 metres long and 10 metres wide, and is recorded in the writings of The Venerable Bede of the 8th century.