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Uncover buried treasure
Photograph of the dig at the Sutton Hoo burial site.

Dear Andrew,

This week we are digging into the past and uncovering some real treasures! From Medieval belt buckles to Roman coins - millions of objects have been found across the country and these finds help historians to learn more about how people lived in the past. 

This week you can...

⚒️ Craft a Celtic torc
⚒️ Design your own coin
⚒️ Discover the top 10 treasure finds
⚒️ Go on a Sutton Hoo trail

And for older Young Friends, join curator Sue Brunning to dig deeper into the excavation of Sutton Hoo and discover the stories it unearthed. Plus, test your knowledge of hoards and take a guess at what our mystery objects could be.

Discover more at the Museum across the May half-term with free family activities. Inspired by our major exhibition Ancient India: living traditions (22 May – 19 October 2025), the whole family can enjoy a range of colourful, sensory and atmospheric activities. Find out more below!

Read on to get involved!

The Young Friends and The Schools and Young Audiences Teams

Activities to try at home
Golden bracelet with engraved design.

Craft a Celtic torc

Inspired by the Snettisham Hoard, create your own jewellery inspired by Celtic designs.
 
Get crafting
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Roman coin depicting Mark Anthony.

Design a coin

Across the vast Roman empire, coins were a way for people to see the emperor's face - why not try making your own?
Get designing
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What is treasure?

'Treasure' is actually a legal term, as people who find treasure are legally required to report it. 'Treasure' includes any gold and silver objects, and groups of coins from the same finds, over 300 years old. Read the Remus articles below to learn more.
Gold vessel which has been mishaped.

X marks the spot

Learn about the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and unearth some of the UK's top treasure discoveries!
Get reading
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Copper cavalry face-mask with fragments broken and missing.

Finding Roman treasure

Check out some amazing Roman treasures that have been found in the UK.
Get reading
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Find the connection in the collection

What are we looking at? 

Take a look at these three containers - what do you think they held? All three were found in the Hoxne Hoard, the largest find of treasure from Roman Britain.
Collection of vessels - left to right, a hound attacking a hare, figures wrestling, and an ibex.

Keep scrolling for the answer, but no peeking!
Cavalry helmet from Roman Britain.

Explore ancient Britain

Explore the wonders of ancient Britain and discover the secrets of Sutton Hoo in your next visit to the Museum.
Download trail
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Older Young Friends - Explore Sutton Hoo

Ages 14+

In 1939, Edith Pretty, a landowner at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, asked archaeologist Basil Brown to investigate the largest of several Anglo-Saxon burial mounds on her property. Inside, he made one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries of all time.

Join curator Sue Brunning to explore the exciting finds from Sutton Hoo.
Drawing of the Sutton Hoo burial site.

Anglo Saxon swords
Watch now
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Curator sat next to the Sutton Hoo helmet.

Sutton Hoo Helmet
Watch now
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More to explore at the Museum
Collection of woodblock prints on floral fabric.

Discovering Ancient India: living traditions

Get the family to the British Museum this May half-term for free, fun family activities inspired by Ancient India: living traditions.

Across this two-day event you can explore Indian woodblock printing, discover South Asian fashion and get hands-on with exciting objects.

Thursday 29 May
Friday 30 May
10.00–16.30
Find out more
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Cover artwork of My Little Museum: Ancient Egypt book.

Enjoy more at home

Discover treasures of ancient Egyptian history and create your own little museum! Visit the British Museum shop to explore My Little Museum: Ancient Egypt.
Buy now
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Connection answer

They are pepper pots!

The Hoxne Hoard is an amazing treasure found in 1992 in a field in Suffolk, England. It’s a big collection of Roman treasures, like coins and jewellery, buried a long time ago.

These small pepper pots were used by the Romans to sprinkle pepper on their food - which was a fancy treat back in AD 400!
Discover more
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Connect with us

Images:

Edith Pretty (sitting in the centre on the edge of the trench) observes the dig. Photograph by OGS Crawford.

The Snettisham Great Torc, England, 150–50 BC.

Silver coin showing the Roman general, Marc Antony. Rome, Roman Republican, 32 BC.

The Mildenhall Great Dish, England, 4th century AD.

The Ringlemere Cup, England, Early Bronze Age (c. 1950BC-1750BC).

Gilded silver pepper pots, Hoxne (parish), England, Romano-British (AD 43 to c. AD 410).

Bronze cavalry helmet, Witcham Gravel, England, 1st century AD.

Indian woodblock prints against a fabric background. Photo © Shweta Shukla.

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[email protected]

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