Rare Gold Treasure From 3,000 Years Ago Found by Metal Detectorist

An incredibly rare Bronze Age artifact has been discovered by a metal detectorist in the United Kingdom.

The gold "dress fastener," found by Nottinghamshire man Jonathan Needham while searching near Ellastone, in Staffordshire, dates back 3,000 years and is thought to be one of only seven found in England or Wales, a report from the British Museum states.

The "beautifully preserved" object comes from a time when "Irish smiths were producing some of the most exquisite goldwork in Europe" and illustrates cultural links between Ireland and Britain during the Bronze Age.

British Museum scientist Laura Perucchetti and curator Neil Wilkin confirmed that the object would have been used to hold clothing together.

"The large, enigmatic fastener is formed of a solid, cast, bow-shaped body connecting two skillfully raised cone-shaped terminals," the report said. "It may have been worn on the body to hold together the cloak, skirt or dress of an important person."

Clues to its ownership come from how well crafted it is. Around 3,000 years ago, such pieces were only owned by wealthy people.

The incredibly rare fastener will likely be purchased by a museum, where it can be put on display.

Needham said he was "gobsmacked" to discover the object during an interview with the BBC.

"We were punching the roof at what we had found," he said.

Soon after Needham discovered the object, he handed it into Derby Museum, the BBC reported. The metal detectorist is still waiting to see how much the fastener is worth, but thinks it will be a "life-changing amount," he told the BBC.

This is not the only Bronze Age find to be discovered in Staffordshire as the British Museum reports that "other, notable, later Bronze Age finds" have been made in the "close vicinity."

These include a pair of palstaves, a type of Bronze Age axe, dated from between 1150 B.C. to 800 B.C. Archaeologists believe palstaves were mainly used for cutting wood but it is also likely they were used as weapons.

The Bronze Age was so named because of the important influence the metal had during this era and lasted from c. 2500 B.C.–2000 B.C. until c. 800 B.C. in Britain.

Many finds from the Bronze Age are striking because of the precious metals they were made with, giving archaeologists insights into how ancient people lived.

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