Detectorist finds Mercury figurine in Yorkshire

A 2,000-year-old figurine of the Roman god Mercury has become the 1,000th archeological object this year to be officially recorded in North and East Yorkshire as part of a government-funded project.

Portable Antiquities Scheme Find Liason Officer Rebecca Griffiths, holds the 2,000 
year old figurine of the Roman God Mercury, at The Yorkshire Museum 
[Credit: Simon Hulme]

The worn copper alloy figurine of the Roman god of commerce and travellers was found by Dave Cooper, member of the York and District Metal Detecting Club, in a field near Selby.

Mercury was one of the more popular Roman gods, with similar examples already found across the country giving an insight into the religious practices of Roman Britain.

The figurine which is the 1,000th find of the year in Yorkshire
 stands 76.7 mm high [Credit: © PAS]

The figurine is the 1,000th find this year recorded by the North and East Yorkshire Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), a government-funded project to encourage the voluntary recording of archaeological objects found by the public.

Rebecca Griffiths, PAS Finds Liaison Officer at York Museums Trust, said: “Every year thousands of archaeological objects are discovered by members of the public.

“While the majority of these come from metal-detector users we also see many finds from people field-walking, gardening, renovating houses and even those out walking particularly inquisitive dogs.”

Source: The Yorkshire Post [June 01, 2015]