Illegal but important find: A detectorist found a Roman silver treasure that was around 2,000 years old near Hildesheim – and kept this find secret for eight years because he was hunting for treasure without permission. Only now has the finder come forward and archaeologists have been able to recover the treasure of around 450 silver coins and several silver bars. According to initial analyses, the objects date from the Roman Empire. But it is still unclear whether a Roman or a Germanic tribe buried the treasure.
It happens again and again that valuable and archaeologically significant finds are made not by archaeologists, but by private detectorists. Such amateur treasure hunters walk through forests or fields with metal detectors to find historical coins, weapons or other artifacts. However: In many federal states, tube testing is only permitted with official approval. All finds must also be reported. This is intended to ensure that important finds do not disappear and that the context of the finds is preserved and can be examined. But not all detectorists stick to it.
450 silver coins and several silver bars
There has now been such a case in Lower Saxony. In April 2025, a 31-year-old man reported to the police and reported that he had discovered an antique silver treasure near the town of Borsum near Hildesheim. However: This discovery happened in 2017 and was therefore eight years ago. But because the detectorist was traveling without permission at the time, he was afraid to report this find to the authorities, as he reported. Only now, after the statute of limitations had expired, did the man dare to hand over his treasure trove. The police then notified archaeologists from the Lower Saxony State Office for Monument Preservation.
Closer examination of the find revealed that the treasure, which is around 2,000 years old, consists of 450 silver coins, several silver bars as well as a gold ring and a gold coin. This makes this silver find one of the largest in Lower Saxony, as archaeologist Sebastian Messal from the state office explains. “The find is of enormous scientific importance,” said Messal. In order to find out more about the context of the discovery, he and his colleagues had the detectorist show them the original location last week. The archaeologists hoped to obtain more information about the circumstances under which the silver treasure was once buried.
Who buried the treasure: Romans or Germanic tribes?
During the follow-up investigation of the site, Messal and his team found additional silver coins. Otherwise, however, they were able to gain little further information due to the improper excavation in 2017. That is unfortunate, says Messal. But at least it is now certain that there are no other parts of the hoard waiting to be discovered. The silver treasure and its components are currently being further examined and conserved at the Lower Saxony State Office for Monument Preservation.
According to initial analyses, the finds date from the first century AD and thus from the time of the Roman Empire. The silver treasure was therefore buried at a time when Romans and Germanic peoples lived closely next to each other in this region and sometimes even fought against each other. It is still unknown who buried the coins and silver bars. The archaeologists hope to learn more about it through further analysis of the finds. “A more precise chronology of the treasure discovery and its deposit is only possible after the coins and other finds have been restored and scientifically evaluated,” explains the state office. “Only then can we assess where the artifacts came from and why they were buried here. Were they Romans or Germanic tribes?”
Source: Lower Saxony State Office for Monument Preservation