A simple day of metal detecting in Essex turned into an extraordinary treasure discovery when four-year-old James Hyatt uncovered a gold pendant believed to date back around 500 years. James was with his father while searching a field in Hockley when the metal detector gave a strong signal. After digging several inches into the ground, they caught a glimpse of gold and uncovered what turned out to be a rare reliquary pendant from the 16th century. The discovery was made in 2010, when the object was the subject of a treasure trove inquest. The pendant was estimated at the time to be worth up to £2.5 million, although its eventual valuation and fate became a separate part of its story. Its religious imagery and unusual design made the tiny object particularly significant to archaeologists and historians.
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