Treasure of the British Museum: The Salisbury Hoard

The Salisbury Hoard  Bronze Age and Iron Age, 2400-200 BC  Found at Netherhampton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England  The Salisbury Hoard is the largest group of prehistoric metal objects ever found in Britain. Most were miniature versions of objects such as shields, tools, daggers and spearheads. They were probably buried as offerings to ancient gods. The shields, for example, may have been intended to bring good luck in warfare. They were buried about 2000 years ago, at which time some of the objects were already 2000 years old. These were possibly Bronze Age objects dug up in the Iron Age and reburied with the other items.  © Trustees of the British Museum