A MEDIEVAL gold pendant is just one of the items now officially declared as treasure after it was found in the Colchester area.
A hoop believed to be from an early medieval sword and a silver badge understood to be from the late Middle Ages were also part of a fascinating collection of finds.
The fate of all the historic items was determined during a treasure inquest at Essex Coroner’s Court.
The law states discovered artefacts are classified as treasure if they are more than 300 years old and 10 per cent of their weight consists of precious metals.
Among the finds declared as treasure at the court was a medieval gold pendant found by Elijus Tamuleuicius in Great Tey on August 29 2021.
A report from the British Museum revealed it dates back to about the late 12th to early 13th century.
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Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes said the find was likely to be an amulet due to “thou art mighty forever oh lord” being inscribed on it.
Mr Brookes said the item would have therefore been “invoked as a charm against fever during the medieval period”.
The court heard the Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service will now move to acquire the find.
Another item uncovered by Christopher Middleton on September 27 2021 while he was metal detecting in Langham was hauled before the court.
Read more: Valuable Roman jewellery found in archaeological dig
The find, described as a “hoop of gold bead wire”, is believed to have come from an early medieval sword hilt or grip collar.
Also discovered in Langham on April 19 2021 was a silver conical seal matrice.
Mr Brookes told the audience in attendance it featured a motif of a skeleton holding an hourglass in one hand and what appeared to be an arrow in the other.
A memento mori on the matrice, traced back to the 17th century, had the words “be mindful of death” and “remember you will die”.
Other finds determined to be treasure included a silver gilt badge found by Paul Hewitt in St Osyth understood to be from around 1500 to 1600 AD.
A silver bodkin discovered by Bob Cavanagh in Great Bromley and a post medieval seal matrice found by John Wild in St Osyth made up the other treasures.
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