Field reveals more treasures

AN amateur archaeologist from Warrington has succeeded where Time Team failed after unearthing more ancient Roman treasures from a farmer’s field near Lymm.
During his most recent metal detecting activities in the Warburton and Lymm areas James Balme has discovered ancient treasures including Silver Roman Republican coinage dating back to 130BC.
For more 12 years he has been searching the landscape in his pursuit of evidence left behind from prehistoric through to Roman times.
Not only was there a great Roman presence in the area but James has also recovered evidence from the Prehistoric, Bronze Age and Iron Age periods of history.
In 2006 the cult archaeological series ‘Time Team’ joined James for a three day dig in the village to try and locate and explain why so many wonderful ancient treasures had been recovered.
After failing to make any major finds, the programme concluded that there had possibly been a small Roman farm on the fields that could account for the artefacts, which had been unearthed in the area.
Undaunted by their conclusion James was not happy that the results and decided to carry on with his research to try and pinpoint exactly why so many rare treasures had been unearthed and more importantly, find the centre of ancient activity within the village.
Now three years on he has succeeded where Time Team failed, with the discovery of a multitude of rare ancient treasures from the Iron Age and Roman period and all coming from a new area of the village.
James said: “When Time Team left the village I was greatly disappointed that they had not found the reason behind why I had recovered so many treasures from ancient times. After taking a few months off from my research I still believed that an answer to this great mystery still remained out there to be found.
“After another three years work around the village I have unearthed many more unbelievable ancient treasures including Silver Roman Republican coinage dating back to 130BC and almost certainly deposited by the Roman military when they arrived here circa 60AD.”
But as well as the coinage he has started to find material that could indicate an Iron Age settlement in the area including a rare Bronze statue dating to the Iron Age or Early Roman period and a stone carving that was lay deep in sandbeds of the river Bollin. The carving is something exceptional and currently it is believed that it is a ritual carving placed in the river as an offering to the gods, which was common practise during Iron Age and Roman times.
James added: “These latest discoveries are truly amazing and go to prove that Time Team did indeed miss something very special.
“I couldn’t be happier that my determination and belief in the research I carry out remains strong and now the results go to show that my theories were correct. I will continue my work and I hope to be able to hold several open days next year to display my discoveries to the people in the area. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the years and in particular the landowners who have allowed me to research their fields.”
Picture shows James Balme with Time Team’s Tony Robinson.