SAEDNEWS: Metal Detectorist Unearths Historic Gold Brooch in England, Hands It Over to Museum
An amateur treasure hunter using a metal detector in England has discovered a historic gold brooch, which, under the country’s Treasure Act, was promptly handed over to a museum.
The artifact, dating back roughly 3,000 years to the late Bronze Age (1000–800 BCE), was used to fasten different sections of clothing.
According to Live Science, Jonathan Needham made the discovery while scanning a site in Staffordshire, a county in England, with his metal detector.
In line with the United Kingdom’s 1996 Treasure Act—which obliges citizens to report significant archaeological finds—Needham immediately reported the brooch to Derby Museum.
Museum researchers concluded that the remarkably well-preserved piece was likely crafted in Ireland, indicating cultural connections between what are now Ireland and Britain during the Bronze Age.
The gold brooch features an arched base connecting two cones and likely fastened the shirt, skirt, or cloak of a person of high status. Scratches on the surface suggest it was used extensively.
This brooch is one of only seven similar finds discovered in England and Wales to date. According to researchers, this latest discovery is the most intact example ever found in Britain.
