Lost purses and loose change? Coin deposition on settlements in Iron Age Europe

Leo Webley, C Haselgrove

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter in a book

Abstract

This paper examines the archaeological contexts of Iron Age coin finds from
settlements across western Europe. We have tended to assume that these coins were predominantly casual losses, especially at the large oppida, but analysis of stratified finds from selected major sites including Manching, Basel, Titelberg, Martberg and Acy-Romance, implies a strong element of intentional deposition.
Similar tendencies are apparent at smaller rural sites in France and southern England. The nature of specific depositional practices involving coins, however, varies quite noticeably across Europe and even between contemporary settlements within the same region, while in some areas where only precious metal coins circulated, off-site deposition appears to be the norm. Such deliberate deposition may often have had a ritual significance, both on and off sites, although this need not be the only reason.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe archaeology of money
EditorsC Haselgrove, S Krmnicek
Place of PublicationLeicester
PublisherLeicester University Press
Pages85-113
Publication statusPublished - 2016

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