February 8, 2026
How a Lost Hammer Led to the Discovery of Britain’s Greatest Roman Treasure
On November 16, 1992, a quiet field near Hoxne in Suffolk became the setting for an astonishing discovery. Retired gardener Eric Lawes had agreed to help his friend, farmer Peter Whatling, search for a missing hammer. He brought along a metal detector, expecting to locate a simple tool. Instead, the device signaled something far more unusual beneath the soil. When Lawes began digging, he uncovered silver spoons and gold coins.
