Britain's Secret Treasures

{{Infobox television

| image = Ralph Jackson and Bettany Hughes.jpg

| caption = Ralph Jackson (Curator of Romano-British Collections at the British Museum) and Bettany Hughes during filming at the British Museum

| genre = Documentary

| creator = Michael Kelpie and Ed Taylor

| presenter = {{Plainlist|

}}

| starring =

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| num_series = 2

| num_episodes = 14

| executive_producer = Michael Kelpie, Ed Taylor

| producer =

| location =

| runtime = 30–60 mins

| company = ITV Studios

| network = ITV

| first_aired = {{Start date|2012|07|16|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2013|12|05|df=y}}

}}

Britain's Secret Treasures is a British documentary shown on ITV hosted by Michael Buerk and Bettany Hughes.{{Cite news | last=Waters | first=Florence | title=Bettany Hughes on Britain's Secret Treasures | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9397722/Bettany-Hughes-on-Britains-Secret-Treasures.html | newspaper=The Telegraph|location=UK| date=16 July 2012 }} The programme features fifty archaeological discoveries that have been made in England, Wales and Scotland by members of the public.{{Cite web | title=Britain's Secret Treasures | url=http://www.itv.com/treasure/ | publisher=ITV | accessdate=2012-07-15 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130128021305/http://www.itv.com/treasure/ | archivedate=28 January 2013 }}{{Cite web | title=ITV and the British Museum to reveal the 50 greatest treasures discovered by the British public | url=http://finds.org.uk/news/stories/article/id/231 | publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme | date=26 March 2012 | accessdate=2012-07-15 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608124442/http://finds.org.uk/news/stories/article/id/231 | archivedate=8 June 2012 }} With the exception of a single find made in Scotland, all the objects featured were recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS). Since the PAS was set up in 1997, some 800,000 objects have been registered with the scheme, many of them discovered by amateur metal detectorists.{{Cite news | last=Roya | first=Nikkhah | title=50 greatest national treasures revealed | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/9400070/50-greatest-national-treasures-revealed.html | newspaper=The Telegraph|location= | date=15 July 2012 }}

The fifty finds have been selected by Hughes and a panel of experts from the British Museum (Roger Bland, Michael Lewis, Sally Worrell and Ian Richardson) and the Council for British Archaeology (Mike Heyworth) from among the nearly one million finds reported to the PAS on the basis of their historical and cultural significance, as well as on their aesthetic merit.{{Cite web | title=The selection panel for the top 50 finds | url=http://finds.org.uk/secrettreasures/thepanel | publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme | accessdate=2012-07-18 }} The six episodes of Britain's Secret Treasures present the fifty objects in reverse order according to their importance as judged by the panel, in a countdown format, with the ten most important objects revealed during the sixth and final episode.{{Cite news | last=Akbar | first=Arifa | title=Last night's viewing - Usain Bolt: the Fastest Man Alive, BBC1; Britain's Secret Treasures, ITV1 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-viewing--usain-bolt-the-fastest-man-alive-bbc1-britains-secret-treasures-itv1-7946742.html | newspaper=The Independent | date=17 July 2012 }}

Taking the top slot in the countdown, as the most important object according to the panel, is a Lower Paleolithic flint handaxe made more than half a million years ago that was found on a beach in Happisburgh, Norfolk, in 2000 by a man taking his dog for a walk.{{Cite news | last=Roya | first=Nikkhah | title=Prehistoric axe is Britain's top treasure | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/9417089/Prehistoric-axe-is-Britains-top-treasure.html | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | date=22 July 2012 }}

Episodes

=Series 1=

Episode	Air Date	Contributors	Objects
class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
1	16 July 2012	John McCarthy Saul David	45–50{{Cite web \| title=Britain's Secret Treasures Episode One \| url=http://finds.org.uk/secrettreasures/episodeone \| publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme \| accessdate=2012-07-17 }}
2	17 July 2012	Michael Portillo Nicky Clarke Mary Ann Ochota Claire Barratt	38–44{{Cite web \| title=Britain's Secret Treasures Episode Two \| url=http://finds.org.uk/secrettreasures/episodetwo \| publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme \| accessdate=2012-07-17 }}
3	18 July 2012	Michael Portillo John McCarthy John Sergeant	27–37{{Cite web \| title=Britain's Secret Treasures Episode Three \| url=http://finds.org.uk/secrettreasures/episodethree \| publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme \| accessdate=2012-07-18 }}
4	19 July 2012	Dave Crisp (finder of the Frome Hoard) Brian Blessed Mary Ann Ochota Gethin Jones	19–26{{Cite web \| title=Britain's Secret Treasures Episode Four \| url=http://finds.org.uk/secrettreasures/episodefour \| publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme \| accessdate=2012-07-19 }}
5	20 July 2012	Dan Lobb Mary Ann Ochota Anita Rani Jon Culshaw	11–18{{Cite web \| title=Britain's Secret Treasures Episode Five \| url=http://finds.org.uk/secrettreasures/episodefive \| publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme \| accessdate=2012-07-20 }}
6	22 July 2012	William Roache Michael Portillo	1–10{{Cite web \| title=Britain's Secret Treasures Episode Six \| url=http://finds.org.uk/secrettreasures/episodesix \| publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme \| accessdate=2012-07-22 }}

=Series 2=

Episode	Air Date	Contributors
class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
1	17 October 2013{{Cite web \| url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week42/britains-secret-treasures#.Ukw4qdI3tLc \|title = Britain's Secret Treasures Episode 1}}	Mary Ann Ochota James Purefoy
2	24 October 2013	Jim Moir Tom Holland Tanni Grey-Thompson
3	31 October 2013	Russell Grant Tony Baker Thomas Littleton Suzannah Lipscomb
4	7 November 2013
5	14 November 2013	John Prescott Mary Ann Ochota Suzannah Lipscomb
6	21 November 2013	Mariella Frostrup Ekow Eshun Suzannah Lipscomb
7	28 November 2013
8	5 December 2013	Katherine Jenkins Mary Ann Ochota

List of objects

Number \|\| Image \|\| Object \|\| Date \|\| Where Found \|\| When Found \|\| PAS Record
class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%"
1	100px	Happisburgh Handaxe	{{sort
0000\|800,000 – 600,000 BC}}	{{sort\|Norfolk\|Happisburgh, Norfolk}}	2000	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/512140 NMS-ECAA52]
2	100px	Ringlemere Gold Cup	{{sort
8300\|1700–1500 BC}}	{{sort\|Kent\|Ringlemere barrow, Kent}}	2001	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/49483 PAS-BE40C2]
3	100px	Staffordshire Hoard	{{sort\|0550\|550–650}}	{{sort\|Staffordshire\|Hammerwich, Staffordshire}}	2009	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/263520 WMID-0B5416]
4	100px	Chalgrove Hoard	{{sort\|0251\|251–279}}	{{sort\|Oxfordshire\|Chalgrove, Oxfordshire}}	2003	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/509491 PAS-879F02]
5	100px	Boar Badge of Richard III	{{sort\|1470\|1470–1485}}	{{sort\|Leicestershire\|Sheepy, Leicestershire}}	2009	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/268787 LEIC-A6C834]
6	100px	Hallaton Hoard	{{sort\|0400\|c. 400}}	{{sort\|Leicestershire\|Hallaton, Leicestershire}}	2000	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/509553 PAS-984616]
7	100px	Staffordshire Moorlands Pan	{{sort\|0100\|100–199}}	{{sort\|Staffordshire\|Staffordshire Moorlands, Staffordshire}}	2003	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/49791 WMID-3FE965]
8	100px	Baldehilde Seal	{{sort\|0600\|600–700}}	{{sort\|Norfolk\|Broadland, Norfolk}}	1999	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/509468 PAS-8709C3]
9	100px	Crosby Garrett Helmet	{{sort\|0075\|75–250}}	{{sort\|Cumbria\|Crosby Garrett, Cumbria}}	2010	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/404767 LANCUM-E48D73]
10	100px	Vale of York Hoard	{{sort\|0928\|c. 928}}	{{sort\|Yorkshire, North\|Harrogate, North Yorkshire}}	2007	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/198978 SWYOR-AECB53]
11	100px	Near Lewes Hoard	{{sort
8500\|1500–1100 BC}}	{{sort\|Sussex, East\|Lewes, East Sussex}}	2011	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/437360 SUSS-C5D042]
12	100px	Blair Drummond Hoard	{{sort
9700\|300–100 BC}}	{{sort\|Stirlingshire\|Blair Drummond, Stirlingshire}}	2009	N/A
13	100px	North West Essex Ring	{{sort\|0580\|580–650}}	{{sort\|Essex\|Uttlesford, Essex}}	2011	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/476309 ESS-E396B1]
14	100px	Ashwell Hoard	{{sort\|0250\|250–350}}	{{sort\|Hertfordhire\|Baldock, Hertfordhire}}	2002	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/509533 PAS-9708E3]
15	100px	Winchester Hoard	{{sort
9900\|c. 100 BC}}	{{sort\|Hampshire\|Winchester, Hampshire}}	2000	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/509442 PAS-845331]
16	100px	Carlton-in-Lindrick knight	{{sort\|1150\|1150–1250}}	{{sort\|Nottinghamshire\|Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire}}	2004	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/76635 SWYOR-D37EE5]
17	100px	Seal Matrix of Stone Priory	{{sort\|1200\|1200–1300}}	{{sort\|Surrey\|Weybridge, Surrey}}	2011	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/460250 SUR-B74173]
18	100px	Silverdale Hoard	{{sort\|0900\|900–910}}	{{sort\|Lancashire\|Silverdale, Lancashire}}	2011	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/462949 LANCUM-65C1B4]
19	100px	Leopard Cup	{{sort\|0001\|1–99}}	{{sort\|Monmouthshire\|Llantilio Pertholey, Monmouthshire}}	2002	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/56812 NMGW-9A9D16]
20	100px	Tisbury Hoard	{{sort
9200\|800–600 BC}}	{{sort\|Wiltshire\|Tisbury, Wiltshire}}	2011	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/467433 WILT-E8DA70]
21	100px	Saltfleetby Spindle Whorl	{{sort\|1000\|1000–1100}}	{{sort\|Lincolnshire\|Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire}}	2010	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/409249 LIN-D92A22]
22	100px	Milton Keynes Hoard	{{sort
8850\|1150–750 BC}}	{{sort\|Buckinghamshire\|Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire}}	2000	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/509421 PAS-833958]
23	100px	Nether Stowey Hoard	{{sort\|1633\|c. 1633}}	{{sort\|Somerset\|Nether Stowey, Somerset}}	2008	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/237552 SOM-849CA3]
24	100px	Marcus Aurelius Bust	{{sort\|0100\|100–200}}	{{sort\|Northamptonshire\|Brackley, Northamptonshire}}	1976	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/252426 BERK-E24C84]
25	100px	Frome Hoard	{{sort\|0293\|c. 293}}	{{sort\|Somerset\|Frome, Somerset}}	2009	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/387181 SOM-5B9453]
26	100px	River Stour Pilgrims' Badges	{{sort\|1300\|1300–1500}}	{{sort\|Kent\|Canterbury, Kent}}	?	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/507974 PAS-B1BD65]
27	100px	French Forgeries	{{sort\|1711\|1711}}	{{sort\|Hampshire\|Bishops Waltham, Hampshire}}	2010	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/392918 HAMP-E4E185]
28	100px	Holderness Cross	{{sort\|0600\|600–650}}	{{sort\|Yorkshire, East\|Holderness, East Riding of Yorkshire}}	1965	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/28631 YORYM214]
29	100px	West Yorkshire Hoard	{{sort\|0900\|900–1000}}	{{sort\|Yorkshire, West\|Leeds, West Yorkshire}}	2008–2009	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/459594 SWYOR-F86A02] [http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/459594 SWYOR-3B5652]
30	100px	Sedgeford Hoard	{{sort
9900\|c. 100 BC}}	{{sort\|Norfolk\|Sedgeford, Norfolk}}	2003	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/509995 PAS-B1F065]
31	100px	Witch Bottle	{{sort\|1820\|1820–1880}}	{{sort\|Lincolnshire\|Navenby, Lincolnshire}}	2003	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/56555 LIN-49FC12]
32	100px	Hackney Hoard	{{sort\|1854\|1854–1913}}	{{sort\|London\|Hackney, London}}	2007	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/438813 PAS-867115]
33	100px	Llanbedrgoch Viking Finds	{{sort\|0600\|600–1000}}	{{sort\|Anglesey\|Llanbedrgoch, Anglesey}}	2007	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/511776 NMGW-C5EE45]
34	100px	Billingford Amulet	{{sort\|0043\|43–200}}	{{sort\|Norfolk\|Billingford, Breckland, Norfolk}}	2003	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/30188 NMS-7BEED8]
35	100px	Durham Assemblage	{{sort\|0090\|90–400}}	{{sort\|Durham\|Piercebridge, County Durham}}	1986–2002	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/107593 NCL-2C40A4] [http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/511344 FAPJW-AB59E5]
36	100px	Langstone Hoard	{{sort\|0025\|25–75}}	{{sort\|Newport\|Ringland, Newport}}	2007	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/244817 NMGW-9C0216]
37	100px	Anarevito Gold Stater	{{sort
9990\|10 BC – AD 20}}	{{sort\|Kent\|Dover, Kent}}	2010	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/440414 FASAM-FCD3A2]
38	100px	Hoard of Spanish-American Doubloons	{{sort\|1790\|1790–1801}}	{{sort\|Lincolnshire\|North Kesteven, Lincolnshire}}	2010–2011	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/386995 LIN-55BFE7]
39	100px	Beddingham Nose	{{sort\|1500\|1500–1700}}	{{sort\|Sussex, East\|Beddingham, East Sussex}}	2009	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/287663 SUSS-05BC17]
40	100px	Putney Brothel Token	{{sort
9973\|27 BC – 37 AD}}	{{sort\|London\|Putney, London}}	2011	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/455487 LON-E98F21]
41	100px	Cloth Seals from Durham	{{sort\|1550\|1550–1650}}	{{sort\|Durham\|Elvet, Durham, County Durham}}	2008	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/427818 PUBLIC-9B0430]
42	100px	Cautopates Figurine	{{sort\|0043\|43–307}}	{{sort\|Yorkshire, North\|Newton Kyme, North Yorkshire}}	2007	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/207498 SWYOR-9FCBB3]
43	100px	Tanworth Comb	{{sort\|0025\|25–70}}	{{sort\|Warwickshire\|Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire}}	2006	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/143350 WAW-250340]
44	100px	Rochester Cuff-link	{{sort\|1660\|1660–1700}}	{{sort\|Kent\|Rochester, Kent}}	2001	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/491060 BM-CAA2C7]
45	100px	First World War Medal	{{sort\|1919\|1919}}	{{sort\|Surrey\|Limpsfield, Surrey}}	2009	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/263669 SUR-5ADA50]
46	100px	Sedgeford Torc	{{sort
9800\|c.200 BC}}	{{sort\|Norfolk\|Sedgeford, Norfolk}}	2004	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/508203 PAS-F070D5]
47	100px	Pitminster Toy Cannon	{{sort\|1700\|1700–1750}}	{{sort\|Somerset\|Pitminster, Somerset}}	2003	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/417408 SOM-D20D91]
48	100px	Epsom Harness Boss	{{sort\|1603\|1603–1664}}	{{sort\|Surrey\|Epsom, Surrey}}	2009	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/262213 SUR-23EF78]
49	100px	Hockley Pendant	{{sort\|1500\|1500–1550}}	{{sort\|Essex\|Hockley, Essex}}	2009	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/256636 ESS-2C4836]
50	100px	Roman Slave Shackle	{{sort\|0200\|200–400}}	{{sort\|Hampshire\|Headbourne Worthy, Hampshire}}	1992	[http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/246137 HAMP-C45106]

Objects submitted by viewers

File:Facade of Scuola Grande di San Marco (Venice) - Lion of San Marco.jpg

At the beginning of the series viewers were invited to submit photographs of objects that they had found in England or Wales, so that experts from the British Museum could select the most interesting object, to be announced during the final episode.{{Cite web | title=Send in your discoveries | url=http://finds.org.uk/secrettreasures/itv-sendin | publisher=Portable Antiquities Scheme | accessdate=2012-07-23 }}

The viewer-submitted object chosen as the most interesting by the panel was a small medieval bronze ornament in the form of an open book that was found in a field by the Pilgrims' Way at Bentley, Hampshire in 1997 (PAS record: [http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1057 HAMP527]). The open pages of the book are engraved with the Latin inscription Pax tibi, Marce, Evangelista meus meaning "Peace to you, Mark, my evangelist". The traditional symbol of the Republic of Venice and the city of Venice is a winged lion (symbol of Mark the Evangelist), which is often depicted with one of its paws on an open book showing this same inscription, which suggests that the bronze book may have been a pilgrim's souvenir from Venice.{{Cite web | title=The bronze booklet with the amazing story | url=http://www.itv.com:80/treasure//extras/bronzebooklet/ | accessdate=2012-07-23 }}{{dead link|date=February 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

File:Medieval_bronze_book_A.jpg|Front of medieval bronze book

File:Medieval_bronze_book_B.jpg|Back of medieval bronze book