In a remarkable discovery, David Lovett, a 64-year-old amateur treasure hunter from Smallburgh, Norfolk, stumbled upon a Bronze Age treasure trove in a field at Barton Turf. The find, estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, includes a variety of artifacts such as axes, chisels, knives, spearheads, and a ring containing a lock of hair with 82 to 83 percent solid gold.
Mr. Lovett, who had frequented the farmer’s fields in the past, had never encountered this precious treasure. He explained that the fields were typically filled with grazing sheep, obstructing the center of the paddock. However, on the fateful day in 2016, the absence of sheep allowed him to explore the uncharted territory and make the discovery of a lifetime.
“I’ve been to that field before, but there are always sheep in the middle. On this day there are no sheep,” Mr. Lovett shared. “The treasure is spread over an area of about 30 to 40 square meters. First, I picked up a few small pieces and then a curved dagger. My heart started beating fast, and I knew there would be more, then I found another ax head. It was an indescribable feeling when I found it… knowing that you have something in your hands that you haven’t held for 3,000 years.”
Despite a decade of searching for buried treasure, Mr. Lovett had not struck gold until this moment. The treasure has been officially declared as such during a recent investigation and is set to be acquired by the British Museum. The sale proceeds will be evenly split between Mr. Lovett and the landowner.
Bronze Age gold artifacts, like those discovered, were used to denote high status. Between 2500 and 800 BC, communities in England learned to work metal, producing objects of bronze, brass, and gold. Notably, there are no known gold mines in Europe dating back to the Bronze Age, suggesting the use of gold panning techniques.
Mr. Lovett, who also works for Norfolk Museums Services, expressed his intention to continue the search for buried treasure despite the potential financial gain.
“I don’t think you can describe it. I felt both excited and skeptical,” he said of his discovery. “My wife said I jumped off the wall for three days.”
Julie Shoemark of the Portable Antiquities Programme provided insights into the significance of bronze in the region, emphasizing its value, especially in areas like East Anglia, lacking local copper or tin mines. She noted that the artifacts could serve as repositories for metalworkers or be part of ritualistic acts, denoting wealth and high status in late Bronze Age society. Lock rings, like those found, were theorized to be used as earrings or hair decorations. Ms. Shoemark concluded, “What is generally agreed is that they denoted wealth and high-status within late Bronze Age society.”