June 2024 – Exciting news for the metal detecting community as two remarkable discoveries in Dorset have been secured by the local museum, highlighting the crucial role of hobbyist detectorists in preserving history.
In a triumph for local history buffs, Dorset Museum has raised £32,000 to acquire two significant hoards unearthed by metal detectorists. This move ensures these treasures remain in their home county, accessible to the public and researchers alike.
The first find, a group of 40 gold stater coins dating back to the 2nd Century BC, was discovered near Blandford Forum. These coins are particularly intriguing for detectorists as they’re not local to the area but were minted by the Baiocasses, a Gaulish tribe from France. This discovery underscores the potential for unexpected and historically significant finds that keep many in the hobby passionate about their searches.
Even more thrilling for the detecting community is the Bronze Age hoard found in Stalbridge. John Belgrove, the detectorist behind this exceptional discovery, uncovered a palstave axe head, a decorated bangle, and a rapier sword deliberately broken into three pieces. Belgrove’s find is a dream come true for many in the hobby, with only two similar incomplete examples known in Britain.
“It’s incredible to think these beautiful objects of such skilled workmanship had lain buried in the Dorset mud for over 3,000 years,” Belgrove commented, echoing the sentiment of many detectorists who hope to uncover such treasures. “I am still pinching myself that I’m a part of the Stalbridge Hoard story.”
This acquisition by Dorset Museum not only preserves these artifacts for future generations but also validates the important contributions of responsible metal detectorists to archaeological research and historical preservation. The museum’s plan to showcase these items in a special exhibition on treasure will likely inspire more enthusiasts to take up the hobby and continue the search for hidden history across the UK.
For detectorists everywhere, these finds serve as a reminder of the potential buried beneath our feet and the thrill of discovery that keeps them returning to the fields, beaches, and woodlands, metal detector in hand.
