Excitement of detectorist’s first treasure find
This medieval silver gilt brooch was declared to be Treasure at an inquest in Shrewsbury this week. It was found by detectorist Caroline Parkinson in a field near Hodnet, Shropshire on 22 January 2022. Caroline has a passion for history and has recently started detecting “My partner surprised me with a small metal detector about four years ago and I go out most weekends and during the week when I can. I had always wanted to do it. I have found plenty of things but this is my first treasure. I would like to go out every day but work gets in between me and my detecting.”
The Find
Caroline was on an organised event with 60 other detectorists when she got a beep from her detector. She dug down about four inches and at first thought that she had found a piece of costume jewellery until someone said it might be treasure.
The field had never previously been detected and several other items of potential Treasure have now been found there. The farmer who owns the land said that he was happy for detectorists to go on her land and added “It is nice to let people enjoy their hobby“
The Ring
The ring was recorded at the PAS as HESH-145342.
Photo: Birmingham Museums Trust CC By SA2.0
The decoration on the brooch is of two double-headed animals facing each other. These zoomorphic annular brooches are dated to the thirteenth century.
Shropshire Council museums service has expressed an interest in acquiring the find. Rob Gittins, Shropshire Council cabinet member for culture and digital, said “It is always incredible to discover what has been hidden under the county’s land and we look forward to being able to acquire this piece so that it can be put on display in Shrewsbury Museum and enjoyed by everyone“
Caroline said “It was such an exciting find to make and I knew it had to be reported in the proper way. It is important that detectorists act responsibly and protect their finds so that they can be recorded and documented. I hope the annular can be acquired by the museums service and go on display for people to enjoy – I would certainly like to go and see it.”