A special inquest has detailed a discovery by metal detectorist Maurice Thomas, who found 14 objects between February and April 2020 in the Penwith area of Cornwall.
Guy Davies, assistant coroner for Cornwall, said the objects, which included rings and a bracelet, were believed to be from the Viking period (800-1050).
Not all the objects could be dated; however, some may have been between the mid to late Bronze Age, around 1,300 BC and 1,000 BC. Similar fragments had been found in Ireland, Scotland, and France.
At the same inquest, the discovery of an ‘outstanding’ Bronze Age ring was also noted. The ring was discovered by a rookie treasure hunter with less than a month’s experience.
The gold penannular ring, dated between 1,000 BC and 800 BC, was found on the surface of a field in Restormel in February 2024.
Davies said the ring was the first of its kind to be found in Cornwall, although others have been found in Devon, Dorset, and Somerset. The Royal Cornwall Museum would pay any rewards to the finder and landowner.
In January, media reports detailed the study of a Viking grave site containing valuable jewellery, coins, and other unique treasures in Norway.
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