Other than being an interesting story, of what real value is that archaeological information? It indicates that someone of means was there at some time in the past, but who, when, and why was it lost? They can only speculate. More interesting stories.
A lot can be learned. However, if some metal detectorist takes shovel and pick willy nilly only to get some metal finds to sell for a quick $ on the black market, a lot can be lost. So, IMO he did the right thing by notifying authorities so qualified archaeologists could do their work.
Since the initial find was made in plow soil it was probably not in situ but a lot can still be learned. Were these grave goods? Could this discovery lead to others? Is there a Bronze Age settlement nearby? The presence of amber beads is interesting since most amber comes from the Baltic regions. This could indicate either trade or migration.
Some sites also show evidence of near continuous occupation from the neolithic through the Bronze and Iron age and even later. The Romans often made settlements on earlier Bronze and Iron age sites in Brittan just as the Anglo-Saxons often settled on earlier Roman sites and the Normans on earlier Anglo-Saxon sites.
Some early Christian churches from both the Christianized Anglo-Saxon period and the Norman period show stones that had been "robbed" from earlier Roman buildings, some still with Roman/Latin inscriptions on them.
A metal detectorist only interested in high value metal finds would have likely missed the beads, the animal teeth or even the small rings.
I watched this the other night. A road widening project in Essex UK in 2003 led to the discovery of an intact Saxon burial chamber dating to around 580 AD.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFzqDn2lOz8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prittlewell_royal_Anglo-Saxon_burial
This was obviously a high-status burial but what makes it interesting aside from the incredible level of preservation and goods found, is that the body had been laid in a wooden coffin, with two small gold-foil crosses, one over each eye and a silver spoon engraved with a cross which would indicate a Christian burial. But a burial chamber with many grave goods indicates a pre-Christian/pagan burial. It is thought that he had been laid in the coffin by Christians, and that the coffin had been then buried by pagans, reflecting divided and shifting attitudes towards Christianity at the time.
Similar gradual shifts in culture and religion can also be found at some British-Romano excavation sites.
We tend to think that all Roman era sites in Brittan were made by “Italian” Romans (FWIW many of those garrisoned in Brittan came from outside Italy) but that is not the case. Not all, but many Celts adopted Roman culture, building technics and religion, but the change was gradual. Near some Roman era forts outlying settlements show a mixture of traditional Iron Age round houses and Romanized buildings dated to the same period - but with wooden posts and wattle and daub walls as would be with a round house, but with built on stone foundations, tile roofs and painted plastered walls and mosaic floors on the inside.
Conversely some Romans garrisoned in Britania adopted and or incorporated Celtic customs and religious practices.
You do not learn these things by digging up the dirt looking only for treasure.
Well put.
Thank you!