Metal Detecting in the Fields, Man Discovers a Large Golden Heart Pendant on a Gold Chain.
Charlie Clark from Birmingham, England, felt heartbroken after his beloved dog passed away from cancer, so he decided to visit a friend in Warwickshire for a walk.
The 34-year-old Clark brought along his metal detector, hoping to find something interesting. When the device started beeping in the agricultural land, Clark thought he might have stumbled upon an old soda can.
Man Discovers “Treasure” While Metal Detecting.
Instead, after digging deeper into the ground, he unearthed a large heart-shaped pendant hanging from a thick gold chain – adorned with the intertwined letters H and K.
The front of the pendant features the red and white Tudor rose emblem, nestled among pomegranate bushes. The initials mentioned were recognized by Clark’s friend as belonging to none other than King Henry VIII of the 16th century and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
After finding the pendant, Clark took it to an expert in Birmingham and then to the British Museum, where its authenticity was confirmed – leaving researchers speechless in front of the priceless pendant.
“We all thought: Oh my God, is this real? Could this actually happen?”, said Rachel King, the Renaissance Europe curator at the British Museum.
Dr. King stated that this pendant was not ordinary for its time and appears to have been hastily crafted, possibly made as a prize for a tournament or special event.
The pendant features the red and white Tudor rose emblem, nestled among pomegranate bushes.
This discovery is considered the most significant find in 25 years since the UK government began recording treasures and the most important find from the Renaissance in 100 years.
She added that no one knows how the pendant ended up in a remote field in Warwickshire, but it might have been buried by someone trying to protect it or by a thief attempting to conceal their loot.
The back displays the letters H and K.
According to the law, treasure finders in England must report their discoveries, allowing museums to auction them. The proceeds are then equally divided between the finder and the landowner.
Clark mentioned that once the item is sold, the substantial fee will change the life of his 4-year-old son.
