Metal Detecting Was A Lifelong Hobby
As a metal detecting hobbyist for 15 years, Jason Hyatt decided to take his three-year-old son, James, out for a thrilling day of treasure hunting. Jason was clearly filled with glee to share his hobby with his son, just as any parent would be.
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In Essex, United Kingdom, the three generations (son, father, and grandfather) went out one day with hopes of discovering some cool treasures. What a wonderful thing to bond over!
James Discovered An Incredible Treasure
Three-year-old James used a metal detector for the first time ever. Surely, we could only imagine the excitement for this grandfather, father, and son when the detector began to crazily beep that fateful day.
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“Beep, beep, beep.” That was the sound that James said the metal detector made. Naturally, any kid would be overjoyed and beaming to hear the sound of a treasure discovery. James had no idea that what he would find was not ordinary, but very special.
His Discovery Would Change Everything
According to James’ grandfather, it had only been about five minutes that James had been using the metal detector. Typically, metal detectors can detect around 12-18 inches in the ground. In a flurry, the men began to dig deep into the ground to unearth James’ discovery.
Source: nsotd3/ YouTube
The digging didn’t last for too long to get to the buried treasure. It’s crazy that in a matter of moments this discovery was completely unintentional and unearthed.
A Rare And Intriguing Pendant
Eight inches down is where the ancient and rare treasure was buried. The three generations of Hyatts found the glimmering object and plucked it out without so much as a second thought. What was it?
Source: thisismoney.co.uk
It looked like an old locket that had been sitting down there for a really long time. They had no clue where it came from and this is where the truth of this mystical mystery is uncovered.
Details About The Mysterious Pendant
They came to discover that the pendant consisted of 73% gold. It was also around an inch long in terms of length. So, since 18 carat gold is 75%, the Hyatt boys definitely found themselves a valuable gem.
Source: Reddit
The pendant had gorgeous engravings on it and weighed 8.68 grams. It was only until they took it to have experts look at it that the real value of James’ miraculous find was revealed. And, wow, the history behind the locket is mind-blowing!
The Pendant's Historical Significance
An expert at the British Museum asserted that this pendant was a hallmark of the time and represented medieval piety. The five wounds of Christ and the Virgin Mary, or Saint Helena, were engraved on the locket.
Source: TheHistoryBlog.com
Iaspar, Melcior, and Baltasar (the names of the three Wise Men) were inscribed on the pendant’s sides, and there were four eyes weeping with a heart at the center on the pendant’s back.
The Locket Was Tied To Medieval Piety
James had uncovered a precious 16th century medieval locket. During those times, medieval piety was a form or belief that placed a lot of importance on the good deeds of a person.
Source: TheHistoryBlog.com
The locket was a classic representation of those characteristics. We can’t help but wonder who could have owned such a miraculous and valuable treasure.
Gold In Medieval Times
During Medieval times, gold was seen as an incredibly prestigious metal. The Middle Ages mainly used gold for prestigious gifts, bribes, or to buy expensive goods.
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Gold was also held in high regard by the Catholic church, as they saw it as a representation of eternity and light. The depiction of Virgin Mary (or Saint Helena) and the depiction of Christ on the locket that James found begins to take shape.
James Had Been Lucky Before
According to his dad, Jason, James has already proved himself to be a luck magnet. “My son is one of the luckiest people ever. If we go to the doctor he’ll put his hand down the side of the sofa and pull out a tenner.”
Source: Facebook
It makes sense then, that a toddler with a metal detector for the first time in his life would discover a golden locket from the Middle Ages! Who better?
The Locket Will Be Investigated
Any treasure found in the U.K. must be investigated by a treasure-trove inquest. Once the inquest is completed then any proceeds from the sale of the Medieval relic will be split between the Hyatt family, as well as the owner of the field it was found in.
Source: jandan.net
The likelihood of someone using a metal detector in the exact location of an incredibly rare pendant had been quietly sitting eight inches beneath the surface is nothing short of magic.