The 15 items - one of which depicts the hero Hercules - have been described by experts as having "no parallel, locally or nationally".

The find included a handle and bowl (Image: British Museum)

They were discovered by contractors carrying out survey work along the route of a new Anglian Water pipeline near Oxborough.

The find was reported to Norfolk Coroner's Court, which is responsible for recording all such discoveries.

The haul found near Oxburgh Hall is "unparalleled." (Image: Supplied)

Anglian Water (Image: Newsquest)

At a recent hearing, the hoard was officially declared as treasure by senior coroner Johanna Thompson, meaning it will now be valued and assessed to see if it will be acquired by a museum.

Alex Bliss, a metalwork specialist who has been studying the items, told the hearing: “There is no parallel for this group locally or nationally. It provides an exceptional insight into early Roman culture and practices in East Anglia.”

A total of 15 objects were found, dating from the late Iron Age to early Roman period and including cooking vessels, wine-serving equipment, household fittings and horse gear.

The items were discovered after a metal-detector signal was picked up during archaeological monitoring of the pipeline route, the precise location of which has not been revealed.

The items were recovered during excavation ahead of pipeline works (Image: British Museum)

Items recovered from the ditch are said to provide an "exceptional insight" into Roman times. (Image: British Museum)

Topsoil was stripped and excavation revealed the objects buried together.

A large rounded stone was found around 60cm above the deposit and roughly 1.5 metres away, which is thought to have acted as a marker.

The items were lifted in soil blocks and transported for analysis at specialist conservation laboratory.

Experts said the group of objects was deliberately deposited and represents a rare and highly unusual assemblage.

The recent inquest heard evidence from archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology, which carried out the excavation work.

Mr Bliss, from the company, described the find as “exceptional” and noted the unusually wide range of object types present.

The items included a handled pan and skillet, a wine strainer, bowls and dishes, along with weighing and measuring equipment, household fittings and a distinctive set of horse harness components.

Several items were described as rare or unique, including a lidded fitting decorated with the figure of Hercules and early Roman horse gear, offering insight into manufacturing techniques during the period.

A pan and a handle were part of the find (Image: British Museum)

The treasure was found during excavation ahead of pipe work. The moat pictured, during earlier repairs at Oxburgh Estate in Norfolk (Image: Mike Hodgson)

A report compiled for the coroner concluded the collection fulfilled the criteria for treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 and met the significance threshold set out in the Treasure (Designation) Order 2023, due to its age, rarity and national importance.

The inquest heard the hoard was discovered on April 30, 2025, during works associated with the Didlington water main scheme. The hamlet of Didlington is close to Oxborough.

The area, which is home to the National Trust's Oxburgh Hall, is already rich in history.

A dirk, or dagger, from the Bronze Age was found by chance in a peat bog near Oxborough in 1988. The weapon is now part of the British Museum collection.

A project manager for Anglian Water, told the hearing the company had funded the archaeological work which resulted in the discovery, in line with planning requirements.

Conservators at Norwich Castle Museum have been involved in discussions around the finds, which are expected to contribute significantly to understanding Roman activity and settlement patterns in the region.

The items were recovered during excavation ahead of pipeline works (Image: British Museum)

The haul was declared treasure at Norfolk Coroner's Court (Image: British Museum)

Area coroner Johanna Thompson (Image: The Coroners' Society)

In her conclusion, the coroner said the evidence clearly demonstrated the hoard was a deliberately deposited group of objects of high archaeological importance.

“I am confirming that this hoard will be classed as treasure,” she said, adding: "This is a highly unusual find of national significance."

The items will now be subject to the usual Treasure Act process, including valuation and potential acquisition by a museum.

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