A dream come true!!!

Amateur treasure hunter stumbles upon ancient English hoard of gold and silver

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.

One of life’s most exhilarating experiences is to uncover a valuable object, especially when it is a jaw-dropping discovery so awesome it causes others to be jealous. The treasure bug can catch on early in life with a youngster on all fours digging in his back yard and can stay with someone until old age as he becomes a grizzled prospector panning for gold along a remote stream.

Most treasure hunts, of course, end in failure and disappointment. But some dreamers with the right combination of persistence and luck stumble onto monumental discoveries that take on a mythological life of their own and are discussed for years to come.

There is no doubt that amateur metal detector enthusiast Terry Herbert belongs in that category.

As reported Thursday by the Associated Press, Herbert was exploring an English farm in July when he discovered a massive hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver sword decorations and other military artifacts that date back to the 7th century. The discovery of at least 1,345 items, some inlaid with precious stones, is considered the largest of its kind from that era and has excited British archaeologists.

Herbert and the unidentified landowner are certain to get rich from the proceeds they will collect when the treasure is sold to museums. His fellow countrymen won’t share in the financial benefits but they will be enriched culturally by the anticipated public display of those dazzling artifacts.

Herbert, who spent five days uncovering the hoard before professional archaeologists took over, told the AP: “Imagine you’re at home and somebody keeps putting money through your letterbox, that was what it was like. I was going to bed and in my sleep I was seeing gold items.”

We should all be so lucky.

Article courtesy of Las Vega Sun

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