Iron Age gold ring and Medieval silver brooch featuring two flag-bearing centaurs discovered by metal detectorists in Shropshire are declared ‘treasure’ in first inquest held over video link
- The items were found by detectorists Mark Lambert and Christopher Mussell
- The brooch — which features two centaurs — dates back to 1200–1300 AD
- From 400–200 BC, the ring meanwhile is only the sixth of its kind from the UK
- Following the inquest on April 21, Shropshire Museums hopes to acquire both
An Iron Age ring and a Medieval brooch that were discovered by metal detectorists in Shropshire have been designated ‘treasure’ by a coroner.
In what is perhaps the country’s first set of inquests to be held via video conferencing the coroner, John Ellery, made both declarations on April 21, 2020.
According to the Treasure Act 1996, objects defined as treasure must be offered to sale to a museum at a price set by an independent board of experts.
Shropshire Museums is aiming to acquire both items in order to put them on display for the public to enjoy.
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An Iron Age ring and a Medieval brooch (pictured) that were discovered by metal detectorists in Shropshire have been designated ‘treasure’ by a coroner
Metal detectorist Mark Lambert found the silver-gilt brooch — which features two carved centaurs — outside of the town of Bridgnorth and has been dated back to around 1200–1300 AD.
Experts believe that the brooch may once have had a pin looped around the arm or waist of one of the two centaurs, — or alternative could have been sewn directly onto a garment.
‘The brooch has hardly any wear on it and looks almost as good as the day it was lost some 800 years ago,’ Shropshire Finds Liaison Officer Peter Reavill told the BBC.
The ring was unearthed in Frodesley, in the south of Shropshire, by metal detectorist Christopher Mussell.
Only the sixth of its kind to have been found in the United Kingdom, the ring has been dated back to between 400–200 BC.
It bears similarity to rings that have been found in larger numbers in Switzerland.
Given this, it is possible that the ring was either imported from the continent or made as a local copy, said experts from the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which records finds made by members of the public.
The ring was unearthed in Frodesley, in the south of Shropshire, by metal detectorist Christopher Mussell. Only the sixth of its kind to have been found in the United Kingdom, the ring has been dated back to between 400–200 BC
‘The brooch has hardly any wear on it and looks almost as good as the day it was lost some 800 years ago,’ Shropshire Finds Liaison Officer Peter Reavill told the BBC
Iron Age finds made from precious metals are ‘extremely rare’ in the UK, Mr Reavill told the BBC.
‘We know the county has amazingly rich prehistoric and specifically Iron Age archaeology with numerous important hill-forts,’ he added.
‘What we don’t have is a great understanding of where these people lived, traded and farmed.’
‘This tiny personal object throws a beam of light on to the individual who once wore it.’