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Treasure hunter strikes gold with 1,000-year-old discovery linked to 'Hand of God'
New York Post • • world
Key Points:
- Nick Berry, a metal detectorist from Northampton, England, discovered a nearly pristine 1,000-year-old gold pendant shaped like a hand while searching farmland near Highclere Castle in Hampshire.
- The pendant, believed to date from the ninth or 10th century, is thought to represent the “Hand of God,” a Christian symbol common in late Saxon and Viking-era artifacts.
- Experts suggest the pendant was likely worn as a talisman by a high-status individual, possibly a noble, and no other artifacts were found nearby, indicating it may have been accidentally lost.
- The artifact has been declared treasure and sent to the British Museum for examination; Berry and the landowner may receive a substantial payment if acquired by a public institution.
- This discovery adds to recent significant finds by metal detectorists in Britain, including Bronze Age gold bracelets found earlier this year near Carlisle.
