Banner Image: Jersey Heritage
The conservation of Le Câtillon II, the world's largest Celtic hoard
In 2012 two Jersey metal detectorists discovered a hoard containing nearly seventy thousand 1st C BCE Celtic coins as well as numerous gold torques, other pieces of jewellery, ingots and organic finds. The entire mass was excavated intact and this allowed a detailed, three-year long process of recording, disassembly and conservation.
Uniquely, a 3D computer map of the entire hoard contents, down to individual coins was produced during the work as a future research tool. Conservation challenges during the project included safely lifting the one-ton mass from the ground, keeping its water content stable during three years of treatment in public view and the recovery of textiles and the Celtic world’s only leather purse from the hoard body.
