RP 194: Dea Senuna: Treasure, Cult and Ritual at Ashwell, Hertfordshire

<p>The hoard of Romano-British temple treasure discovered at Ashwell, Hertfordshire, in 2002, was a unique and sensational find. Comprised of some 27 gold and silver objects, it appears to have been buried in the later 3rd or 4th century AD.<br /><br />It includes an important silver-gilt figurine, a splendid suite of gem-set gold jewellery and beautiful gold and silver plaques, many of which were inscribed with votive dedications to the hitherto unknown goddess Senuna. Subsequent excavations revealed<br />a complex open-air ritual site, where feasting, religious activity and ritual deposition took place over a long period of time.</p> <p>This book combines a full discussion and catalogue of the hoard, alongside those of the related British treasures from Barkway and Stony Stratford, as well as a report on the excavations and the numerous ritually deposited finds they brought to light,<br />including jewellery, coins, figural objects, ceramics and animal bone.</p> <p>The Ashwell treasure and the excavated finds, which were acquired by the British Museum, are exceptional discoveries that provide fascinating new insights into the ritual of Roman religion, both in Roman Britain and the wider Roman world.</p> <p><strong> With contributions by:</strong><br /><br /></p> <ul> <li>Denise Allen</li> <li>Caroline Cartwright</li> <li>Eleanor Ghey</li> <li>Kay Hartle</li> <li>Martin Henig</li> <li>Marilyn Hockey</li> <li>Catherine Johns</li> <li>Sue Jones</li> <li>Anthony King</li> <li>Susan La Niece</li> <li>Andrew Meek</li> <li>Saul Peckham</li> <li>Valery Rigby</li> <li>Fleur Shearman</li> <li>Sarah Talks</li> <li>Isobel Thompson</li> <li>Roger Tomlin</li> <li>Gill Varndell</li> <li>Neil Wilkin</li> <li>Craig Williams</li> </ul> <p><strong> More about the authors</strong></p> <p>Ralph Jackson was senior curator of Romano-British collections at the British Museum until 2016. Now, as a Visiting Academic, his research is focused on the history and archaeology of Greek and Roman medicine. His previous publications include Doctors and Diseases in the Roman Empire; Camerton: A Catalogue of Late Iron Age and Early Roman Metalwork; Excavations at Stonea, Cambridgeshire 1980–85; Cosmetic Sets of Late Iron Age and Roman Britain; and (with Richard Hobbs) Roman Britain.</p> <p>Gilbert Burleigh was field archaeologist for North Hertfordshire Museums and is now an independent archaeologist and honorary field officer for North Hertfordshire Archaeological Society.</p> <p>His previous publications include Excavations at Baldock, Hertfordshire, 1978–1994, Vol. 1 (with Keith Fitzpatrick- Matthews), and papers in national and local journals as<br /> well as conference proceedings.</p>

The hoard of Romano-British temple treasure discovered at Ashwell, Hertfordshire in 2002 was a unique and sensational find.

Comprised of some 27 gold and silver objects, it appears to have been buried in the later 3^rd or 4^th century AD. The hoard includes an important silver-gilt figurine, a splendid suite of gem-set gold and beautiful gold and silver plaques, many of which were inscribed with votive dedications to the hitherto unknown goddess Senuna.

Subsequent excavations revealed a complex open-air ritual site, where feasting, religious activity and ritual deposition took place over a long period of time.

This book combines a full discussion and catalogue of the hoard, alongside those of the related British treasures from Barkway and Stony Stratford, as well as a report on the excavations and the numerous ritually deposited finds they brought to light, including jewellery, coins, figural objects, ceramics and animal bones.

The Ashwell treasure and the excavated find, which were acquired by the British Museum, are exceptional discoveries that provide fascinating new insights into the ritual of Roman religion, both in Roman Britain and the wider Roman world.