WHY DID THEY NOT RECOVER THE HOARDS? INSECURITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14795/jaha.13.1.2026.1506Keywords:
coin hoards, insecurity, military and civilian environmentsAbstract
The phenomenon of coin hoarding in ancient Rome has been a subject of considerable scholarly interest. Various factors contributed to the inability of Romans to recover their buried hoards.
Historical Context: It is suggested that the practice of burying coins was not universally intended for recovery. Recent archaeological findings, such as the Frome hoard, indicate that many hoards were buried during periods of instability, leading to the assumption that recovery was not always feasible.
Socioeconomic Factors: The decline in population and economic turmoil during the later periods of the Roman Empire may have hindered recovery efforts. As communities faced invasions and internal strife, the original owners of the hoards may have perished or relocated, making recovery impossible.
Archaeological Evidence: Studies of hoard distributions indicate that many hoards were never recovered, as evidenced by the lack of subsequent finds in the vicinity of known hoard locations. This suggests that the original intent to recover was often thwarted by changing circumstances.
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