Real Life Treasure Hunt Stories
Treasure hunter in £100,000 find
17/02/05A metal detector enthusiast has struck gold after stumbling across an ancient necklace worth about £100,000.
Maurice Richardson, 55, of Newark, Notts, found the solid gold torc in a ploughed field on a farm near his home.
The self-employed tree surgeon thought he had found a piece of scrap metal when he came across the twisted necklace, weighing 1.5lb.
It has now been placed with the British Museum, where it will be properly examined and valued.
A coroner, who is expected to open a treasure trove inquest into the find, said it could be worth more than £100,000.
The gold torc is now at the British Museum
Mr Richardson, who has been metal detecting for more than 30 years, has never found anything worth more than £100.
He said after the find: "I got down on my stomach and scraped away with my hands and a glint of gold came into view.
"It took me another half an hour to get it out of the ground because I was so nervous.
"It came out as though I had bought it from the shop yesterday.
"It shone, it was solid and perfect in every way. That is what the hobby is all about."
