To prevent unauthorized searches and looting, archaeologists are requesting permission to conduct a fresh assessment at the location of Jersey's greatest currency hoard.

Thousands of Iron Age coins were discovered in Grouville in 2012

Following a previous find at the same location in 1957, two metal detectorists located the Le Catillon II trove in the east of the island in 2012.

The trove includes priceless Iron Age artifacts and roughly 70,000 coins.

For the same area of the island, Societe Jersiaise is requesting authorization to conduct archaeological surveys.

Plans submitted online said the move had been "prompted by recent instances of nighthawking and archaeological looting, which have been reported to the authorities since 2021".

Field archaeologist for Societe Jersiaise Herve Duval-Gatignol called it a "serious matter" with additional holes and unauthorized tracks discovered nearby.

The hoard, thought to date from about 50BC, was discovered at a depth of just over 3ft (1m) and contains 69,347 coins as well as other items

He mentioned: "It is really hard to address this issue. In other countries you might put cameras in but I think the best thing is to talk to the public and tell them this practice is not acceptable. This is just a group of two or maybe three people and the large majority of metal detectorists on the island are very aware that they don't go to listed sites. We feel like we need to do something and, depending on the results [of the survey], we will address this issue."

Instead of excavating the site, they intend to conduct non-intrusive surveys to look for signs of other artifacts.

The site is Grade 1 designated, and artifacts from the late Iron Age or early Roman era have been found there.