gold fragment of lunula 2200-2000BC updated 02/17/2009
spoke to a flo from the museum today and she told me my fragment is part of a lunula necklace from the bronze age she seamed very excited about the find i have to go and see her next Wednesday were she will give me a report and information ..........:-)
Gold lunula is the term used to describe a distinctive type of early Bronze Age necklace shaped like a crescent moon. Gold Lunula are found most commonly in Ireland, but there are moderate numbers in other parts of Europe as well, particularly Great Britain. Although no lunula has been directly dated, from associations with other artefact's it is thought they were being made sometime in the period between 2200-2000BC (Needham 1996, 124). Less than two hundred gold lunulae are known and it is possible they were all the work of a handful of experts.
The most telling lunulae discovered were from Kerivoa, Brittany. Here three lunulae were discovered in the remains of a box with some sheet gold and a rod of gold. The rod had its terminals hammered flat in the manor of the lunuae. From this it is thought that Lunulae were made by hammering a rod of gold flat so it became sheet-like and fitted the desired shape. Decoration was then applied by impressing designs with a stylus. The stylus used often leaves tell-tale impressions on the surface of the gold and it is thought that all the lunulae from Kerivoa, and another two from Saint-Potan, Brittany and Harlyn Bay, Cornwall were all made with the same tool. This suggests that all five lunulae were the work of one craftsperson and the contents of the Kerivoa box their tools of trade.
Gold lunulae have decorative patterns very much resembling contemporary beaker pottery. They also resemble amber and jet spacer necklaces, which are thought to be slightly later in date. The ideology associated with this type of pattern is unknown. Equally the ideological link between the different materials these necklaces were made of remains a mystery.
UPDATE !!!!
hi forgot to let u no no Ive bean to the musem didn't get a lot more info other than it will go to an inquest to be declared as treasure and then a report would be done and valued that's all i can add for now i shure would like to find the rest
UPDATE 12/09/08
today my lunula was declared treasure i wont be getting it back but it will be going to a local museum i was told the value would be betwean £500 and £1000 split between me and the farmer think i will put the money towards a new detector that has depth love my whites egale though..
2/17/09 valuation
today my letter has come from the British museum they have valued the pice at £500 their was a whole one offed for sale at sotherbys in in December 1990 value £15,000-£20,000 witch was withdrawn as far as I'm aware their is no other lunula ever bean offed for sale in the open market any comments on value welcome to me its priceless and i would rather keep it thanks for reading
Gold lunula 2200-2000BC Less than two hundred gold lunulae are known and it is possible they were all the work of a handful of expert
I sure hope the gov'ment doesn't come take it away...
Nice find.
What I'd like to know, what equipment where you using, and what area were you hunting? I'm wondering if it's possible to tweak your machine for more gold, and hunt again, looking for more pieces.
I knew it was rare as I had seen none similar, but my Bronze age knowledge is somwhat limited to axes,spear,dirks etc.
I suspected Saxon but in the end far rarer. Even in that condition you should get a good valuation. If you need advice along the way, then just ask. It will take well over a year to get the money/item back but you are contributing to our history (& this is priceless in that respect).
You are very lucky & may you get many more similar finds (the farmer will trust you more now & you have banked some points). It will be hard to find an older UK piece than that one 8) 8) 8) 8)
TOO BUSY TO DETECT, YOU'RE TOO BUSY!!!
'No good comes from thinking about how much time we waste detecting, as wasted time is good soul time' - me 25/06/08
How do you find Gold coins? Reply: 'By finding lots of Silver ones..'
A real man thinks about detecting every 6 seconds
'No good comes from thinking about how much time we waste detecting, as wasted time is good soul time' - me 25/06/08
How do you find Gold coins? Reply: 'By finding lots of Silver ones..'
A real man thinks about detecting every 6 seconds
Thanks to the Mods for their support on this truly spectacular piece of history. We are lucky to see this in real time & can't wait for the British Museum report which will take 3-8months! This will contribute to all of our greater knowledge particularly the UK Bronze Age. WOW
TOO BUSY TO DETECT, YOU'RE TOO BUSY!!!
'No good comes from thinking about how much time we waste detecting, as wasted time is good soul time' - me 25/06/08
How do you find Gold coins? Reply: 'By finding lots of Silver ones..'
A real man thinks about detecting every 6 seconds
Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner
Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner
Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner
Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner
Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner
Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner
Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A bannerBanner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner Banner da da Banner da da da Banner def A banner
Simply incredible! I can't imagine finding something that OLD, let alone digging it out of the ground and holding it in my hand. Congrats on the banner, too.
Can you give us more details on how deep it was, etc.? Please share the full report when it comes in.
HH
The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.
WOW.........my find made the banner that makes me feal very proud of my find thanks for all your support and intrest .............
this was found at about 8inch depth with my whites I'm sure the vdi was something like 28 or 26 and was a very sharp signal i shure do hope i can find the rest would love to see it whole just the thought of who wore that makes me think wow
thanks mike ....
Gold lunula 2200-2000BC Less than two hundred gold lunulae are known and it is possible they were all the work of a handful of expert
I thought that looked like gold. Also thought that it wasn't a spoon. 8)
This is truly a SPECTACULAR recovery! It deserves to be on the banner.
Well done, my friend. Best wishes on recovering more pieces of the lunula.
Regards,
Buckleboy
Spring 2012 CaneField Bandits Totals: TEN Half Reales:
1740, 1777, 1784, 1796, 1801, 180?, 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1814
1836 8 Reales
A 17?? One Real
1819 Token/Jeton
Two "Russian Blue" Trade Beads
Henry Clay Campaign Button, 1820s or 1830s FIVE Early New Orleans Seated Coins:
1838-O Dime (no stars), Two 1839-O Half Dimes, an 1840-O Dime, and an 1842-O Half Dime
1892 Barber Dime
1918 Walking Liberty Half
1866 and 18?? Shield Nickels, and some GawGag V's and Beefaloes. Military Relics: Possible Spanish Colonial Era Cap Badge
FOUR War of 1812 Artillery Buttons
1820s Pewter Militia "U.S." Button
CW Eagle Artillery Cuff Button
CW Eagle Infantry Officer's Coat Button
3-Ringers, Enfields, Musketballs, and Shell Fragments
Any relics, coins, or other items appearing in my finds posts were found on PRIVATE PROPERTY with total consent and permission from the owners of said property.
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Simply incredible! I can't imagine finding something that OLD, let alone digging it out of the ground and holding it in my hand. Congrats on the banner, too.
Whatever it is, it is a true treasure to have found!
