A treasure hunter unearthed a 3,000-year-old gold clasp (13 photos)

A walker with a metal detector has found a Bronze Age artifact. Jonathan Needham discovered a 3,000-year-old gold garment clasp at Ellastone, Staffordshire. Experts emphasize that such a case happens one in a billion.





The length of the item is 13 cm, weight - 110 g. Only seven such artifacts were found in England.



“The find exceeded my wildest dreams. It’s simply incredible,” admits the 54-year-old arborist.

“At home we examined the clasp and realized that it was a real treasure. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. This is truly a rare find - I had a much better chance of winning the lottery.”





Needham, from Derby, was walking with a friend on May 6 last year, the day of Charles III's coronation, when he heard a faint signal. He dug up the treasure, but at first thought it was a tarnished aluminum handle.







When the Briton and his friend, 63-year-old Malcolm Baggaley, realized the value of the piece, they sent it to the Derby Museum. The clasp was later transferred to the British Museum in London and will be put up for auction.

Needham must give half of the money to the owner of the land, but he hopes it will be enough for him to take a vacation to the Caribbean.



He shared: "It's ironic that I found royal gold on the day of Charles III's coronation. I went to see the piece at the British Museum, where it was on display alongside many famous artefacts, such as the Sutton Hoo helmet. If I'm lucky enough to see mine name on a plaque in a museum, then there’s nothing more to dream of.”







The man is interested in ancient history and loves the TV series “Treasure Hunters”. But always too busy with work, it was only when arthritis forced him to go part-time that he took up a hobby. His wife gave him a metal detector. Baggaley taught him how to use the device, and they became friends who search for treasure together twice a week.





"I had a feeling I was going to find gold. I've had a few good finds over the past year. I thought it would just be a coin or two."