Treasure finds in England hit a record high, with Norfolk once again producing more than any other county.
Provisional figures from the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme show 1,446 discoveries across the country in 2024, up from 1,266 the previous year.
Norfolk, the jewel in the crown, had 138 finds in 2024.
Dr Helen Geake, Norfolk finds liaison officer, said the area may be the highest for finds due to its arable fields and being historically well-populated, as well as good collaborations between detectorists and archaeologists.
The Treasure Act 1996 defines what constitutes treasure and legally requires the finder to report their find to their local coroner within 14 days.
Here are some of the county’s best finds confirmed as treasure by Norfolk’s coroners during this year:
AMAZING FIELD FIND
A ring unearthed by a metal detectorist in a field near Thetford is thought to be connected to an illustrious Norfolk family descended from a French knight captured during the Hundred Years' War.
The relic, made from gold and inlaid with enamel, was discovered by enthusiast Malcolm Wheel during a search of land on August 9 last year.
An inquest held under the Treasure Act in May heard details about the find, including its link to the Gawdys, a family of Norfolk noblemen.
The item is a mourning ring, believed to have been worn in memory of Sir Bassingbourne Gawdy, third baronet of Harling.
He became the 3rd baronet on the death of his father in 1699, but as he died without heir on October 10, 1723, the Gawdy baronetcy became extinct.
The ring found by Mr Wheel is believed to have been made in memory of him.
BRONZE AGE GOLD RING
A Bronze Age gold penannular ring was unearthed in Hedenham, close to the Norfolk-Suffolk border by detectorist Graham Simmonds on October 25, 2024.
An inquest declaring the ring treasure was held in June this year. It heard that the relic likely dated back more than 2,000 years and was one of around 150 similar ones discovered in the region.
3,000 YEAR-OLD TREASURE
Mark Jewell, a member of the East Anglian Rallies detectorist group, was taking part in a search in Thompson, near Thetford, when his metal detector began making a faint crackle.
Having around 20 years of experience of the hobby without making any "significant" finds, he expected to see nothing more than a piece of scrap metal.
But a "yellowish" glint from beneath his spade turned out to be two linked c-section gold rings dating back to the Bronze Age.
The relic, which he found on March 2 last year, was officially declared as treasure during an inquest in March.
1,500-YEAR-OLD PENDANT
A piece of early medieval jewellery that laid buried for almost 1,500 years was declared treasure in May this year.
Discovered by a metal detectorist, the 7th-century oval pendant consisting of gold and a cabochon garnet was found in north Norfolk during October last year.
A treasure inquest held at Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard that the piece is “relatively small but beautifully made” and the gem is “probably a garnet”.
EXPERTS BAFFLED BY FIND
A metal detectorist unearthed a medieval mystery after discovering a precious object on the opposite side of the county to its original owner.
The silver seal matrix - an object used for creating wax seal imprints - was found in a field in Happisburgh and dates back to the 14th century.
But it left experts baffled as it appears to have been found miles away from its original owner’s home.
But the entire inscription is written in Lombardic script and reads “SIGILLVM IOhIS DE BAnhAM” - meaning “Seal of John of Banham”.
The south Norfolk village of Banham is around 40 miles from Happisburgh.
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