Oxfordshire Museum Acquires Prized Iron Age Hoard

In a significant victory for cultural preservation, the Oxfordshire Museum has acquired a remarkable Iron Age hoard after a successful fundraising campaign. The museum raised the £10,500 needed to purchase the artifacts, which were discovered in a field near Henley-on-Thames in August 2020.

The hoard includes a 2,000-year-old brooch that was once used to adorn the harness of a chariot, as well as a dress brooch, a coin, and an enameled handle from a shallow bowl. These ancient treasures were found by a metal detectorist and later excavated by archaeologists, who declared the items as "treasure."

The county council's museum service had the first opportunity to acquire the hoard and launched a fundraising drive in July. With the deadline looming on October 6th and half the required funds still needed, a final appeal prompted a surge of donations from the local community, allowing the museum to secure the prized artifacts.

The acquisition of this Iron Age hoard represents a significant addition to the Oxfordshire Museum's collection, providing a rare glimpse into the region's rich cultural heritage. The museum's successful efforts to preserve these ancient artifacts for future generations have been widely celebrated by historians and the local community alike.