Jim Belk finds Gold Anglo Saxon sword with metal detector

[Tascio]

Totally missed this story first time round, story is dated 5th March 2011.

https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/8888421.old-soldier-from-chippenham-tells-how-he-hit-gold/

[more on the site]

Former soldier Jim Belk has described the moment he found part of a gold Anglo Saxon sword while out hunting with his metal detector.

Mr Belk, 76, of Esmead, Chippenham, said: "I was in total disbelief.

"I was just so shocked. It is absolutely the most significant thing I have uncovered."

He found the gold pommel – part of the hilt of the sword – last September in a field in Cricklade, which he had permission to search.

It dates from the early medieval period and was last week declared treasure trove by a coroner at an inquest in Trowbridge.

One end of the gold and copper alloy pommel is missing and one side was recently damaged by a plough, making interpretation of the decoration difficult.

It is of a type most often found in Scandinavia, but also known in East Anglia, Kent, Lincolnshire and Staffordshire. It is the furthest West that one of its type has ever been found.