A gust of wind blowing up the Thames half a millennium ago may have been responsible for the creation of a small hoard of gold that has been dug out of the muddy banks of the river.
Archaeologists believe that the cache – made up of tiny fragments of Tudor gold – may have come from a single piece of extravagant headwear that was blown off the head of a high-status passenger on a Thames barge some 500 years ago.
Eight different treasure hunters have recovered 12 individual pieces of the 16th century jewellery from the surface of the Thames foreshore, and the pieces are so similar that experts say that they are likely to have come from the same source.
Archaeologists believe Thames gold hoard may have come from Tudor hat
Experts say 12 tiny pieces of gold recovered from the banks of the Thames may have come from a hat blown off the head of a high-status Tudor figure
By Patrick Foster
23 Dec 2015
The Telegraph
The tiny fragments of beautifully worked Tudor gold were harvested from a muddy stretch of the Thames foreshore over a period of years by eight different metal detectorists Photo: PA
A gust of wind blowing up the Thames half a millennium ago may have been responsible for the creation of a small hoard of gold that has been dug out of the muddy banks of the river.
Archaeologists believe that the cache – made up of tiny fragments of Tudor gold – may have come from a single piece of extravagant headwear that was blown off the head of a high-status passenger on a Thames barge some 500 years ago.
Eight different treasure hunters have recovered 12 individual pieces of the 16th century jewellery from the surface of the Thames foreshore, and the pieces are so similar that experts say that they are likely to have come from the same source.
Henry VIII Photo: ALAMY
Kate Sumnall, the finds liaison officer at the Museum of London, said that the pieces were the result of a huge amount of skilled work, and dated from between 1500 and 1550. She said: "There are no part-completed pieces or raw materials, so we can rule out a workshop. These are the finished article.
"They have been coming up to the surface over the past few months, and it is a really remarkable find. To find just one would be incredible. To find so many is even better.
"They were a real show of wealth, but the fabric they were attached to has probably rotted away over the years."
Tudor portraits by artists such as Hans Holbein show high-status individuals wearing velvet coats and furs with similar gold ornaments attached.
While the gold content is relatively low, with many of the pieces inlaid with enamel or glass, they must legally be reported as treasure. The museum hopes to acquire the pieces, once they have been valued by a coroner.
Archaeologists believe Thames gold hoard may have come from Tudor hat - Telegraph
Archaeologists believe that the cache – made up of tiny fragments of Tudor gold – may have come from a single piece of extravagant headwear that was blown off the head of a high-status passenger on a Thames barge some 500 years ago.
Eight different treasure hunters have recovered 12 individual pieces of the 16th century jewellery from the surface of the Thames foreshore, and the pieces are so similar that experts say that they are likely to have come from the same source.
Archaeologists believe Thames gold hoard may have come from Tudor hat
Experts say 12 tiny pieces of gold recovered from the banks of the Thames may have come from a hat blown off the head of a high-status Tudor figure
By Patrick Foster
23 Dec 2015
The Telegraph
The tiny fragments of beautifully worked Tudor gold were harvested from a muddy stretch of the Thames foreshore over a period of years by eight different metal detectorists Photo: PA
A gust of wind blowing up the Thames half a millennium ago may have been responsible for the creation of a small hoard of gold that has been dug out of the muddy banks of the river.
Archaeologists believe that the cache – made up of tiny fragments of Tudor gold – may have come from a single piece of extravagant headwear that was blown off the head of a high-status passenger on a Thames barge some 500 years ago.
Eight different treasure hunters have recovered 12 individual pieces of the 16th century jewellery from the surface of the Thames foreshore, and the pieces are so similar that experts say that they are likely to have come from the same source.
Henry VIII Photo: ALAMY
Kate Sumnall, the finds liaison officer at the Museum of London, said that the pieces were the result of a huge amount of skilled work, and dated from between 1500 and 1550. She said: "There are no part-completed pieces or raw materials, so we can rule out a workshop. These are the finished article.
"They have been coming up to the surface over the past few months, and it is a really remarkable find. To find just one would be incredible. To find so many is even better.
"They were a real show of wealth, but the fabric they were attached to has probably rotted away over the years."
Tudor portraits by artists such as Hans Holbein show high-status individuals wearing velvet coats and furs with similar gold ornaments attached.
While the gold content is relatively low, with many of the pieces inlaid with enamel or glass, they must legally be reported as treasure. The museum hopes to acquire the pieces, once they have been valued by a coroner.
Archaeologists believe Thames gold hoard may have come from Tudor hat - Telegraph
