| Water Newton Treasure: Silver jug | |
|---|---|
 Silver jug from the treasure (handle missing) | |
| Material | Silver |
| Size | height:203 millimetres (8.0 in) width:116 millimetres (4.6 in) |
| Created | Romano-British period |
| Discovered | February 1975 |
| Present location | British Museum |
| Identification | 1975,1002.1 |
TheWater Newton Treasure is ahoard of fourth-centuryRomansilver, discovered near the location of the Roman town ofDurobrivae atWater Newton in theEnglish county ofCambridgeshire in 1975.[1] The hoard consisted of 27 silver items and one small gold plaque.[2] Because of inscriptions found on some of the pieces in the collection it has been suggested that they may have been used in a local church, and they therefore comprise the earliest probable group of Christian liturgical silver yet found in theRoman Empire.[3]
The hoard was discovered during ploughing in February 1975; several items were damaged by the plough. It was probably buried by an inhabitant of the nearbyRoman fortified garrison town ofDurobrivae. There are nine silver vessels, and the remainder of the items arevotive tokens engraved and embossed with thelabarum (thechi-rho cross), mostly of triangular shape. The larger items include jugs, bowls, dishes, a strainer, and an unengraved standing two-handled cup of the form (cantharus) later used aschalices.
Due to the importance of this find, it is now in theBritish Museum, with part of the original hoard having been on display until January 2019 atPeterborough Museum.
Decorated silver jug, height 20.3 cm high, 11.6 cm maximum width, weight 534 g. (1975,1002.1). Illustrated above, the jug is the most elaborately decorated largely complete piece in the group, withacanthus-type foliage motifs in several zones, and leaf-scrolls. The single handle has become detached; a fragment was part of the treasure.[4]
Lower part of a hanging bowl, width 18–19 cm, weight 220.4 g. (1975,1002.2). Essentially the bottom part only of a large but very thin shallow hanging bowl, designed to be seen from the outside, and possibly used as a lamp. The decoration isrepoussé worked from the outside, leaving the pattern in relief when seen from the inside. Other fragments were found, including rings for suspension and bits of chain, and parts of the rim. There are nine zones of decoration and mouldings. A few very similar bowls have been found in France and Ireland; the decoration may have imitated that of cut glass bowls.[5] The piece is now displayed around aperspex support that demonstrates the original full dimensions—see the gallery section.
Inscribed silver bowl, height 11.5 cm, width 17 cm, weight 663 g. (1975,1002.5). Badly damaged at the base on one side, the bowl has inscriptions: under the base, the name "PUBLIANUS", and round the rim a regularhexameter line:"SANCTUM ALTARE TUUM DOMINE SUBNIXUS HONORO" engraved alongside two chi-rho monograms. The exact context of the inscriptions have been debated but "O Lord, I Publianus, relying on you, honour your holy altar [or church]." is probably the sense. The bowl is therefore marked as a votive offering, and associates the treasure with a church, or perhaps the private chapel of a large house.[6] Whilst this is not like other ancient chalices known for Christian worship, it may indeed be the oldest known chalice in existence. Its design is like that of a chalice depicted in the mosaics of theBasilica of San Vitale inRavenna. Melchizedek and Abel stand making offerings, not to a pagan altar with a fire, but to a table covered with a white cloth. On it are representations of two loaves, and jewelled example of a bowl with handles identical to the Water Newton Chalice.
The majority of the objects found are small plaques which were probably fixed to the wall of a church as votive offerings. Some have holes for nails, like the single gold plaque, and one an inscription saying that "Anicilla has fulfilled the vow which she promised" (1975,10 2.13).[7] The triangular "leaf" form of most of these was originally pagan, but the chi-rho monogram on these examples makes them the first finds to show that the practice had been adopted by Christians.
