Thousands of ancient coins are discovered in a garden and are immediately claimed by the government
A trove of archaeological artifacts - including thousands of ancient coins - has been discovered during excavations at a home in France.
A resident of Senon, France, stumbled upon an unexpected find while preparing to expand his home. Because the property sits in an area known for Gallo-Roman remains, he was required to authorize preventive excavations. To comply, he contacted specialists from Inrap, the official body responsible for archaeological interventions of this kind.
During the dig, archaeologists uncovered numerous ancient artifacts and structures that confirm the site’s remarkable historical richness. The most striking discovery? A cache of tens of thousands of coins stored inside amphorae - a find that exceeded all expectations.
An ancient neighborhood unearthed
Experts say the land lies within what was once a neighborhood of the historic Senon-Amel settlement. Across the 1,500-square-meter plot, they identified remnants of a street, several homes, courtyards, and cellars, along with a wealth of everyday objects that help paint a vivid picture of life in the ancient community.
A trove of nearly 40,000 coins
In total, three amphorae packed with coins were recovered - close to 40,000 pieces from different eras, sparking intense interest among researchers. The area was occupied from the late Gallic period, roughly 100 to 350 B.C., a timeline specialists can now study in detail thanks to the recovered material.
To allow the homeowner to proceed with his project, the entire site was digitally modeled in 3D to document the excavation before returning the land to its normal use. Under current heritage laws, all artifacts become property of the state.
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