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MoreQuiet 8d · day 9

Treasure hunter unearths 1,000-year-old 'Hand of God' gold pendant near Downton Abbey

Nick Berry discovered a rare Anglo-Saxon artifact near Highclere Castle that experts believe depicts a Christian symbol from the Viking era.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 7d ago6 pieces NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • A 58-year-old English metal detectorist unearthed a 1,000-year-old gold hand pendant near Highclere Castle while searching farmland in Hampshire.
  • Experts link the artifact to the 'Hand of God,' a Christian symbol from late Saxon and Viking-era coinage, likely worn by a high-status individual.
  • The pendant has been declared treasure under UK law; Berry and the landowner may receive compensation if a museum acquires it, potentially worth five to six figures in British pounds.

“I just stared at it. I knew straight away it was something very different and could tell it was Anglo-Saxon.”

Nick Berry, Treasure hunter · Fox News ↗

Nick Berry Treasure hunter and metal detectoristBritish Museum Examination authority

Treasure hunter unearths 1,000-year-old 'Hand of God' gold pendant near Downton Abbey
Fox News

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in two hours at Nov 2, 6 AM; 6 pieces over 9 days (5 articles · 1 post) Nov 2, 6 AM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Google News 3, Newswires 1Nov 2, 8 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Nov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietNov 7, 12 AM — quietNov 7, 2 AM — quietNov 7, 4 AM — quietNov 7, 6 AM — quietNov 7, 8 AM — quietNov 7, 10 AM — quietNov 7, 12 PM — quietNov 7, 2 PM — quietNov 7, 4 PM — quietNov 7, 6 PM — quietNov 7, 8 PM — quietNov 7, 10 PM — quietNov 8, 12 AM — quietNov 8, 2 AM — quietNov 8, 4 AM — quietNov 8, 6 AM — quietNov 8, 8 AM — quietNov 8, 10 AM — quietNov 8, 12 PM — quietNov 8, 2 PM — quietNov 8, 4 PM — quietNov 8, 6 PM — quietNov 8, 8 PM — quietNov 8, 10 PM — quietNov 9, 12 AM — quietNov 9, 2 AM — quietNov 9, 4 AM — quietNov 9, 6 AM — quietNov 9, 8 AM — quietNov 9, 10 AM — quietNov 9, 12 PM — quietNov 9, 2 PM — quietNov 9, 4 PM — quietNov 9, 6 PM — quietNov 9, 8 PM — quietNov 9, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quiet 1–2
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  1. 2

    Pendant declared treasure; Berry reports discovery to authorities

    The artifact could be worth between five and six figures in British pounds.

  2. 1

    Experts identify pendant as 'Hand of God' symbol from Viking era

    Analysis by experts links the gold pendant to religious imagery appearing on late Saxon and Viking-era silver coins. The hand symbol is believed to represent the "Hand of God," a Christian symbol, and the artifact likely belonged to a wealthy or high-status individual worn as a necklace pendant or talisman.

    “It must have belonged to a high-status individual, like some sort of noble person, and [it] was definitely worn around the neck like a talisman.”
    — Nick Berry
  3. background

    Nick Berry discovers gold hand pendant while metal detecting — During a metal detecting search on farmland in Ashmansworth, Hampshire near Highclere Castle, 58-year-old Nick Berry found a 1,000-year-old gold pendant in nearly pristine condition. The artifact is hand-shaped with small indentations and is believed to date to the ninth or tenth century.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 4 outlets Treasure Hunter Discovers 1,000-Year-Old Gold Pendant Linked to ‘Hand of God’ Near Downton Abbey Film Set

    first by People.com, 8d ago · also Charisma Magazine Online, NY Post, Fox News

    2 more headlines