Metal detectorist finds medieval pendant with a Roman 'secret'

Medieval Seal Incorporated Roman Intaglio - Archaeology Magazine

Seal with inlaid carnelian intaglio GOSFIELD, ENGLAND—Analysis of an 800-year-old medieval silver seal discovered by a metal detectorist in eastern England in 2024 determined that it was made with a 2,000-year-old Roman jewel, according to a Live Science report. “It’s not common to have an object composed from two different time periods,” said Lori Rogerson, finds liaison officer for Essex. A loop on one end of the oval seal suggests that it may…

Metal detectorist finds medieval pendant with a Roman 'secret'

A discovery on a farm in Essex, England, is a bit of an archaeological version of the 2010 film Inception. In September 2024, a metal detectorist scouring a farm about 45 miles northeast of London found a silver, oval pendant measuring about one-inch-long. The piece included an inscribed frame of mirrored Latin text that allowed for wax impressions. Once pressed onto the malleable material, the phrase “SECRETVM.RICARDI” (“Richard’s secret” or “R…