​A mediaeval gold coin discovered by a man who initially thought it was wrapping paper glittering in the sunshine was one major find produced to experts at an artefacts road show staged at Faulkland village hall.

At the meet the archaeologist event on January 30 medieval pottery, coins dating back thousands of years and Neolithic flint tools were brought in by a huge crowd who unearthed items from all over the parish of Hemington, Hardington and Foxcote.

The purpose of the afternoon was for everyone who had dug up any item of interest in their garden to bring it along and have it examined by the experts, Mark Corney and Julian Richards.

Mark Corney is an archaeologist who specialises in Roman antiquities and is a regular contributor to the popular Time Team programme. Julian Richards is also well known for a series of successful television programmes Meet the Ancestors, Blood of the Vikings and Mapping the Town.

Both were kept busy for the whole afternoon examining and recording a wide variety of objects. The location of the various finds were all plotted on a map of the parish.

The artefacts presented for identification provide a fascinating insight into the archaeology and history of the parish and included material dating from approximately 7000BC to the early twentieth century. Finds included Mesolithic and Neolithic flint tools dating from 7000BC to 2000BC; Roman pottery and a coin; Medieval pottery and fascinating collection of sixteenth and seventeenth century pottery.

Also identified were a large number of clay tobacco pipes probably manufactured in neighbouring Norton St Philip during the seventeenth century; some even bore stamps giving the name of the maker. When plotted onto a map of the village these finds help to indicate how human settlement has evolved around the village and greatly contributed to our historical knowledge of Hemington parish.

Without doubt the “find of the day” was a mediaeval gold coin which was unearthed whilst digging a post hole. The man who discovered this beautiful object saw what he thought was a little piece of wrapping paper glistening in the sunshine. When he bent down to pick it up he could not believe what he had in his hand. The experts were enthralled. They were able to identify it as mediaeval but interestingly they had not seen one quite like it before. It will now be taken to The Bath Museum for further examination and recording by the Portable Antiquities Scheme run by the British Museum.

Dr John Oswin of The Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society was also present and brought along a very interesting display consisting of a detailed map showing the location of Roman and Mediaeval sites within the area. Tea and coffee was served throughout the afternoon and there was plenty of lively and interesting discussion amongst everyone present.

The Parish Plan Group of Hemington, Hardington and Foxcote are currently producing a Design Statement of their parish and the historical information gathered from this event will be added to their existing knowledge which will form part of their overall Parish Design Statement.