An English metal detectorist has made a significant archaeological find. Nick Berry, a 58-year-old from Northampton, unearthed a 1,000-year-old gold pendant during a search on farmland in Ashmansworth, Hampshire. Experts suggest the artifact may represent the ‘Hand of God,’ a symbol found in Christian iconography. The find occurred near Highclere Castle, the iconic location for the TV series ‘Downton Abbey.’
Berry was metal detecting with two others when he received a strong signal. Upon digging, he immediately saw a glint of gold. ‘I knew it was something very different,’ Berry commented, recognizing the pendant’s Anglo-Saxon origins. Berry, who has been metal detecting for over three decades, emphasized the uniqueness of the discovery, stating that he and others had never encountered a similar artifact.
Nick Berry: ‘I just stared at it. I knew straight away it was something very different.’
The ninth or tenth-century pendant may have belonged to a wealthy or noble individual and was likely worn as a talisman. Its hand shape has links to religious imagery found on late Saxon and Viking-era silver coins. ‘The hand has always had symbolic meaning,’ Berry explained, noting its historical association with peace and the absence of weapons.
No additional finds were located nearby, indicating the pendant might have been unintentionally dropped centuries ago. Berry reported the discovery to local authorities, and the artifact has been sent to the British Museum. Under the treasure process, Berry and the landowner stand to receive compensation based on the pendant’s market value if it is acquired by a museum.
Julian Evan-Hart, editor of Treasure Hunting magazine, confirmed the pendant likely represents the Christian ‘Hand of God.’ This symbol appears on various late Saxon/Viking period silver coins and in ecclesiastical artwork. The current estimation suggests the artifact could be worth up to six figures in British pounds.
Julian Evan-Hart: ‘The pendant likely symbolized the ‘Hand of God.’
Barry described the pendant as ‘the find of a lifetime.’ Such discoveries highlight the ongoing contributions of metal detectorists to archaeology in Britain. Earlier, friends detected Bronze Age gold bracelets in Carlisle, and another detectorist uncovered a Roman settlement’s remnants in the Cotswolds.
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