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Monday, 15th December 2008 (1766 views)

Gold coins are among a list of the top archaeological finds of 2008 produced by a leading specialist magazine.

According to the Archaeology magazine, the top ten discoveries this year include a Portuguese shipwreck located off the coast of Namibia, which included almost 50lbs of gold coins.

The shipwreck of the 16th century Portuguese cargo ship was found in April after a geologist noticed something strange on photographs of newly exposed seabed and consulted an archaeologist.

Following a major salvage operation, the ship, known as a nau, was uncovered having been wrecked off the African cape as it travelled from Portugal to India.

Many of the gold coins salvaged depicted Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella and other items discovered with the sunken ship included bronze cannons, elephant tusks and navigational instruments.

A total of 41 of Celtic gold coins sold for £35,000 this year after they were discovered in a field in Kent by a metal detector enthusiast.

 

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