Headsets recreate moment Roman treasure was found

The moment when one of Britain's most important Roman treasure hoards was discovered has been brought to life using mixed reality headsets.

The technology allows visitors to interact with detailed 3D models of some of the 34 pieces of luxury silver 4th Century tableware known as the Mildenhall Treasure.

They were discovered by ploughman Gordon Butcher at West Row, near the Suffolk town, in 1942 and later acquired by the British Museum in London.

"Digging the treasure up using a virtual spade and brushing it off using a virtual brush is quite an amazing experience," said Kay Figgis, trustee of Mildenhall Museum, which holds replicas of the treasure.

The replicas were used by Ipswich-based company Xibitr to create their 3D models, which CEO and co-founder Ian Dance said were between 80 and 90% accurate.

Visitors to the exhibition come into a completely empty space, put on the headset and see 10 of the treasures.

"You can walk around, pick the pieces up with your hands and look all round them, as well as have the option of playing audio about each one while holding it," said Dance.

"We're also asking people to be archaeologists, so when they look down there's a spade and brush hanging from their waist, they can see the areas where Mr Butcher found the treasure in 1942, dig them up and brush them off."

The exhibition has already been in Bury St Edmunds, where it was visited by the man who now owns the discovery field, as well as Butcher's family members, he added.

"The feedback has been amazing, people say, 'I can't believe I could pick up the treasure and hold it'," he said.

Figgis hopes visitors will be prompted to visit Mildenhall Museum to see the replicas, which were made from moulds of the British Museum's originals as a Millennium project after fundraising by locals.

"And from March next year, we will have two headsets here permanently to have the experience here," she added.

The project was supported by Suffolk County Council's Culture Project Fund and the Mildenhall Museum Society.

June Mummery, Reform UK-led Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, said: "This is a fantastic project that takes an important part of Suffolk's history and presents it in a way that's interactive, engaging and accessible to new audiences."

Ian Shipp, cabinet member for leisure and culture at the cross party alliance-led West Suffolk Council described it as "a fun and engaging way" to find out more about the treasure.

The touring exhibition will be at the Haverhill Arts Centre until 12 November and at the National Horse Racing Museum between 12 and 15 January.

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