Metal detectorist unearths ‘kid’s toy’ – then finds out it is a rare 2,000-year-old brooch
Rare 2,000-year-old brooch found on field
- Metal detectorist Martin Williams discovered a rare 2,000-year-old brooch in a recently ploughed field near his home in Dorchester.
- Williams initially mistook the decorative bronze item for a children's toy, only realising its significance after cleaning it properly.
- A local finds liaison officer confirmed the brooch's age, dating it to the Roman rule of Britain, and noted it is not a common type of brooch nationally.
- Williams has a history of significant finds, including Bronze Age axe heads, Roman coins, and medieval rings, and adheres to legal reporting requirements for potential treasure.
- The popularity of metal detecting has surged, leading to an increase in reported treasure finds, with 1,377 cases recorded in 2022.