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Gold 'Hand of God' Pendant Found Near Downton Abbey
2 Nov
Summary
- A 1,000-year-old gold pendant shaped like a hand was discovered.
- The artifact was found on farmland near the 'Downton Abbey' filming location.
- Experts suggest the pendant symbolizes the 'Hand of God' and is Anglo-Saxon.
A metal detectorist has discovered a 1,000-year-old gold pendant near Highclere Castle, the filming location for the popular series 'Downton Abbey.' The artifact, unearthed in Hampshire, England, is a gleaming, hand-shaped treasure believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, dating to the ninth or tenth century.
Experts suggest the pendant may represent the 'Hand of God,' a Christian symbol found in later Saxon and Viking art. The hobbyist who found the item, Nick Berry, described it as the 'find of a lifetime,' noting its excellent condition after being buried for over a millennium.
Under Britain's treasure process, Berry and the landowner may receive a payment based on the pendant's market value, potentially reaching a five- or six-figure sum. The artifact has been declared treasure and sent to the British Museum for examination, highlighting the ongoing archaeological discoveries made by metal detectorists across Britain.
