Metal Detectorists Uncover Bronze Age Gold Bracelets in England

Two metal detectorists, Alan Daniels (48) and Andy Crammond (34), recently unearthed three Bronze Age gold bracelets near Carlisle, England. The find, reported by the Bournemouth News and Picture Service (BNPS), could be worth six figures. Images show the bracelets, also known as torcs, are in excellent condition.

The torcs, dating back to approximately 1100 B.C., weigh 18.27 ounces or 1.14 pounds collectively. They are estimated to be valued at around $400,000. Daniels remarked, “Gold doesn’t tarnish at all, and they came out of the ground just the same as when they went in over 3,000 years ago.”

Crammond humorously commented to BNPS about nearly having a heart attack upon discovering the first torc just inches below the surface. After alerting Daniels, they soon found another one. A third torc was located about 20 feet away.

“Detectorists dream of these things and that is how it still feels, like a dream,” Crammond shared. Both he and Daniels mention they have never found anything valuable before. “I’m waiting for someone to come out of the woodwork and say they aren’t real. It is the find of multiple lifetimes,” Crammond noted.

A previous search had only turned up bits of aluminum cans, prompting them to try a different field where the bracelets were found.

The torcs are currently under assessment by the British Museum. Ultimately, a coroner will decide if the torcs qualify as treasure under British law. If so, they might be purchased by a museum or institution, with proceeds shared among the finders and the landowner.

Metal detecting continues to reveal incredible ancient discoveries. Recently, a 2,700-year-old bronze sword was found upright in northern Poland. In Australia, an unusual coin surfaced at a former Gold Rush campsite.