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Metal-detecting grandma finds medieval gold artifact
New York Post • • world
Key Points:
- Shelley Couzins, a 58-year-old grandmother and metal detecting hobbyist, discovered a medieval gold reliquary cross in a farmer’s field on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, UK, which could be worth at least £20,000 ($27,000).
- The 10.6-gram cross depicts Jesus’ crucifixion on one side and the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus on the other, and it can be opened to hold religious relics, though Couzins left it sealed to avoid damage.
- The artifact was reported under England’s treasure process and is currently being assessed by the British Museum, with any reward likely to be shared between Couzins and the landowner.
- Couzins expressed mixed emotions about surrendering the cross but hopes it will be preserved in a good home rather than kept privately, and she speculates it might have historical links to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, though no evidence confirms this.
- This find adds to recent discoveries of early medieval Christian artifacts across Europe, including similar crosses found in England and Germany in the past few years.
