Danny's Roman Lantern

[john gm]

Hi all, I see news of Danny's find has already reached you:

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?p=382061



I thought you might be interested to read the story so far:

On Sunday 27th Sept. at a Suffolk rally, my son found this amazing object at a depth of approximately 18 - 20 inches.

A fellow detectorist was nearby when Danny found it, and remarked about the size of the hole he was digging. Danny asked Steve (Cibs) to run his coil over the base of the hole and Steve said he also had a 'cracking signal' with his Goldmaxx (Danny was using an Explorer XS). That was all the encouragement Danny needed to keep going and within another inch or so a small segment of chain was exposed.

I was trembling with a mixture of excitement and pride as Cibs and I raised the lantern (though we didn't know exactly what it was at the time) from it's resting place and I placed into the tray.

Back at camp, Danny found images on the internet of a VERY similar lantern from Pompeii dated 1st century AD.

We left the lantern at the farmhouse for overnight safekeeping.




On Monday the FLO (Faye Minter) rang to tell me that she'd collected it from the farm and that it was now with her at the Bury County Council Archaeology Service and that she will contact Ipswich museum in the morning (Tuesday) to arrange an x-ray.

She also said that she's never seen one before and confirmed that it's "A very very rare archaeological find". At this early stage they're aware of none ever found in this country. Faye also said that they suspect it could be grave goods.




On Thursday p.m. I received a call from the FLO. Her opening line was "The landowner has very kindly donated the lantern to Ipswich Museum this morning".




Anyway, the lantern:

The museum have confirmed that Danny's find is indeed the only complete (or anywhere near complete example) to be found in this country. Fragments have been found at Fishborough, Richborough, plus a couple of small fragments from elsewhere.

The British Museum have eight similar examples, including just two complete....All have come from Pompeii and all from high status villas.

The museum believe Danny's lantern is probably from an isolated burial, most likely a cremation, but checked out the site last Friday with geophysics. We await results.

X-rays on the lantern are due to be carried out early this week.

[s1ack3r07]

nice unique find!

[~Alan~]

Thanks for posting the update and the pictures John (the proud dad)

[devros]

Great job on his part. keep up the great finds.

[Byter]

Now that would be a nice surprise to find in the ground!

[Spectrum_a]

I've been following this find since it was first posted on our forum. I'm quite proud to see that both father and son have been represented in the media as a positive force for MD hobbyists. "A very very rare archeological find" which the landowners donated to the Ipswitch Museum, wow! There are too many MD hobbyists who've put us all in bad light over the years -- these are the kind of individuals that wipe away that tarnish.

Thanks for the update! If you're able please relay my congratulations and thanks to both father and son for their contribution to our hobby and on such an amazing find!

[simonthesearcher]

Nice John,i was only a little away in the field and i saw a crowd starting to gather.It certainly is one fantastic find.

[john gm]

Originally Posted by Spectrum_a

If you're able please relay my congratulations and thanks to both father and son for their contribution to our hobby and on such an amazing find!

Thanks....I'm able alright....Forgot to say, as Alan pointed out - I'm Danny's dad (see bottom pic)!

[~Alan~]

UPDATE


Here is the latest on the lantern.
It will get a mention in a new TV series, called Digging for Britain.
In the top video is Dr Alice Roberts who presents the programme, and used
to be in the TV archaeology series Time Team

The second video, is of Caroline McDonald. she used to be our local Finds Liaison Officer,
and is now curator of archaeology at Ipswich Museum, in Suffolk.

http://finds.org.uk/blogs/centraluni...-britain-bbc2/

I hope this works in the US.

[zeemang]

Amazing find to say the least, good job guys!

[JBEXPRESS]

That's pretty darn old! Cool to. Congrats to the guy who found this!

[wolf-n-wa]

That is amazing. Truely a once in a life time find. WOLF

[john gm]

At last!

There have been little snippets about the lantern throughout the day on BBC Suffolk Radio and there'll be an item on their 'Drivetime' programme sometime between 4pm and 7pm today (We even managed to twist Danny's arm enough for him to say a few words - It wasn't easy I can assure you - poor sod! ).

[LootLooker]

Very nice! Congrats!

[~Alan~]

Well done to Danny and John.

The conservators at Ipswich museum have certainly done a good
job on the lantern

[rogue]

CHEERS MATES!!!! Great story, thanks for sharing!

[lkro629]

Thats awesome!!!