In 1991 the village of Höckelheim was connected to the municipal gas network. Of course, gas pipes had to be laid. During the work on this, the construction workers Werner Sieweke and Kurt Winkemeyer came across a depot with metal plates on December 3, 1991 at around 11 a.m. The Höckelheim observers, who already believed the importance of the platelets as a treasure trove, arranged for the city director at the time, Werner Hesse, to be informed of the event. He sent Günter Merl, honorary officer for the archaeological preservation of the city of Northeim, and Karl-Heinz Rettich, head of the urban renovation / monument preservation department of the city of Northeim. Both of them recovered the treasure, brought it to the Braunschweig State Museum, restored it, had it scientifically examined and preserved it. According to the result of the evaluation by Dr. Fishermen were found 17,030 silver coins and 2 silver bars in the Höckelheim hoard. This means that the find is the most extensive preserved medieval coin treasure in Northern Germany and one of the most important coin finds in Germany.
(Northeimer Touristik e.V.)