A rare Anglo-Saxon gold pendant estimated to be around 1,000 years old was discovered by a metal detector enthusiast near Highclere Castle in Hampshire. The find was made on farmland in the village of Ashmansworth, close to the location known as the setting for the television series "Downton Abbey."

Nick Berry, a 58-year-old carer, uncovered the pendant during an organised metal-detecting rally. According to Berry, the group chose to search a previously undetected portion of a field when his detector gave a strong signal. Upon digging, he immediately noticed the glint of gold and carefully retrieved the object from the ground. Berry described feeling an emotional connection to the find, sensing it was something extraordinary.

Experts have dated the pendant to the ninth or tenth century. Measuring approximately 32 millimeters in length, the piece is believed to represent the “Hand of God,” a symbolic motif from the Anglo-Saxon period. The absence of any other items nearby suggests the pendant may have been accidentally dropped and remained buried for centuries.

The artifact has been handed over to the British Museum for further analysis and preservation. Such discoveries contribute valuable insights into England’s early medieval history and the art and symbolism of the Anglo-Saxon era.