EUROPA Archaeological Discoveries

Unearth Jersey’s ancient artifacts in Jersey Post’s Philatelic issue EUROPA: Archaeological Discoveries, available from Monday 5 May 2025. Illustrated by British artist, Hannah George who used a combination of watercolour, ink and digital processing to create the beautiful artwork for this issue.

Despite Jersey’s geographical size, it’s location within the channel and close connection to France during the Ice Age makes it a hidden treasure chest filled with extraordinary archaeological finds, some of which are featured within the issue. 

Archaeological Discoveries - Trade Discoveries  

Jersey’s location within the channel made it a key point for trade among various ancient cultures. The illustration includes various trade items including; the gold torques from the Catillon II Coin Hoard (Iron Age), Roman statuette(Gallo-Roman), Grand-Pressigny flint tools (Neolithic), Viking era metalwork (Viking- early medieval), coloured pattern glass beads (Iron Age/Gallo-Roman) and a polished stone bracelet (Neolithic).

Archaeological Discoveries – Coin Hoard  

Considered to be the largest coin hoard discovery within the British Isles and consists of Europe’s largest assortment of torque rings, along with gold and silver jewelry. The coins include various Celtic symbols. The hoard consist of of coins from various tribes, including those from southern Britain around 40BC. The discovery was made in 2012 by two local detectorists. 

Archaeological Discoveries – La Sergenté Corbelled Tomb

Considered one of the oldest historic monuments in Jersey, La Sergenté Corbelled Tomb was built around 6,500 years ago predating other more well-known ancient sites such as Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza. Discovered in 1923, the site consists of a circular chamber and short passageway. It is the only corbelled passage grave known in the Channel Islands.  

Archaeological Discoveries – La Cotte

Visited by His Majesty King Charles III in 1968, La Cotte is a ravine within the west of the island and is considered a principle palaeolithic site in Europe. Excavation on the site throughout the years has led to the discovery of 200,000 stone tools, remains of Jersey’s first people, animal bones and pollen evidence. 

Archaeological Discoveries – La Pouquelaye de Faldouet 

Estimated to have been built roughly 6,000 years ago, La Pouquelaye de Faldouet is a neolithic passage grave that features a double chamber the second of which is covered by a massive 24-ton capstone. Interestingly, the majority of the stones used for the dolmen are granite and diorite. 

Archaeological Discoveries – Mammoth Bones

Two bone piles containing mammoth and woolly rhino bones were found by two archaeologists in 1966. The discovery was made within La Cotte and provided an insight into potential neolithic hunting techniques due to the state of the bones.   

The issue includes a set of six stamps, a souvenir miniature sheet, first day covers, presentation packs and sheets of ten. 

About EUROPA stamps 

The trade association known as ‘PostEurop’ was established in 1993 to represent the interests of European public postal operators. Each year a theme is set for jurisdictions to interpret with the aim of building awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe. For 2025, the theme National Archaeological Discoveries has been selected.