Leicester archaeologist backs county treasures for national poll

Richard Buckley, Director of University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) and Project Manager for the Grey Friars dig that unearthed the remains of King Richard III in 2012, has shown his support for two world-renowned treasures in Leicestershire which are in the running to be crowned as the country’s favourite finds.

The Bosworth Boar badge and the Hallaton Treasure both feature in a Sunday Telegraph competition which highlights the best 20 treasure finds over the past 20 years.

Buckley has encouraged people to vote for the Boar badge – on display at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre – and the Hallaton Treasure, which is at Harborough Museum.

He said: “It’s not very often that archaeological discoveries are made which really capture the public imagination, so it is especially pleasing that two iconic finds from Leicestershire that tell us about momentous episodes in the nation’s history have been selected in a national vote.

“The discovery of the Hallaton Treasure shed new light on the years around the Roman Conquest of Britain in the first century AD and the silver-gilt boar badge would have been worn by one of Richard III’s aristocratic retainers at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 – a battle which changed the course of English History."

You can cast your votes here and the poll will close on Monday 15 May.

The judging criteria to make the Telegraph's Treasure 20 is that the finds count as treasure under the Act, they advance archaeological and historical knowledge and represent good practice on the part of whoever dug them up.

The treasure finds will also be a focal point of the county-wide Festival of Archaeology in July.