Treasure hunter strikes gold with 1,000-year-old discovery linked to ‘Hand of God’

A metal detectorist in Hampshire has found a small gold pendant believed to date from the ninth or 10th century. Experts think its hand shape may represent the Christian “Hand of God”, making it a rare artefact that could offer insight into religious symbolism and the status of people in Anglo-Saxon Britain.

Nick Berry, 58, found the pendant while searching farmland near Ashmansworth, close to Highclere Castle. It weighs 1.6 grams and was sent to the British Museum after Berry reported it to a local finds liaison officer; it has been declared treasure. If a museum or other public institution acquires it, Berry and the landowner may receive a payment based on its market value, which has been estimated at five or six figures in pounds.