Hoard of Roman finds from the River Tees declared treasure

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A COLLECTION of around 5,000 historical artefacts and coins found in the River Tees near Piercebridge has been officially declared as treasure.

For the past 30 years, divers Rolfe Mitchinson and Bob Middlemass have been exploring the depths of the river in the hope of finding out more about the history of the area.
The pair have collected about 1,500 coins and 3,500 objects including medical instruments, writing styluses and decorative pins. The artefacts are mainly from the Roman era but the oldest silver coin dates back to 50BC.

A treasure inquest was held at Durham Coroner's Court, in Crook, last Thursday (August 30). Senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield concluded that the artefacts and coins were treasure. Mr Mitchinson, 78, from Bournmoor near Chester-le-Street, said: "The finds have been declared as treasure and we are very happy with that.

"We are hoping that the collection will be put on display. It was the full aspect of Roman life in Piercebridge. We want it to stay at this end of the country because it belongs in the Darlington, Piercebridge and Barnard Castle areas."

The pair, who are both members of the Northern Archaeology Group, met in the seventies when they both took part in sea diving.

Read more :  https://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/news/hoard-of-roman-finds-from-the-river-tees-declared-treasure