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© Getty Images
0 / 22 Fotos
The metal detector - Used for many years as an invaluable archaeological tool, amateur enthusiasts have also turned to using a metal detector to try and unearth buried treasure in all sorts of locations.
© Shutterstock
1 / 22 Fotos
Staffordshire Hoard
- Using his metal detector, Terry Herbert discovered the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork to date, this in a field near Lichfield, Staffordhsire, England, in 2009.
© Getty Images
2 / 22 Fotos
Staffordshire Hoard
- The mesmerizing treasure trove consisted of 3,500 items made in gold or silver.
© Getty Images
3 / 22 Fotos
Staffordshire Hoard
- The find also included another 3,500 pieces of garnet cloisonné jewelry.
© Getty Images
4 / 22 Fotos
Hoxne Hoard
- To date, the largest stash of late Roman silver and gold coins discovered in England is the Hoxne Hoard, unearthed by Eric Lawes in 1992.
© Getty Images
5 / 22 Fotos
Hoxne Hoard
- Found near the village of Hoxne in Suffolk, the cache consisted of 14,865 coins. In addition to coinage, 200 items of silver tableware and gold jewelry was unearthed.
© Getty Images
6 / 22 Fotos
Lenborough Hoard - In 2014 on farmland in Buckinghamshire, England, Paul Coleman's metal detector "pinged" after it swept over what was later determined to be one of the largest hoards of Anglo-Saxon coins ever found in Britain.
© Getty Images
7 / 22 Fotos
Lenborough Hoard - More than 5,000 coins were unearthed. More specifically, 5,252 silver examples in pristine condition.
© Getty Images
8 / 22 Fotos
Galloway Hoard - More than 100 gold and silver artifacts from the Viking Age were unearthed by metal detectorist Derek McLennan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland in 2014.
© Getty Images
9 / 22 Fotos
Galloway Hoard - Among the items recovered were broaches, arm rings, ingots, and Christian crosses.
© Getty Images
10 / 22 Fotos
Galloway Hoard
- Secreted away in a pot placed near the main hoard were more objects of Anglo-Saxon origin, including jewelry, gold and crystal artifacts, and Byzantine silk.
© Getty Images
11 / 22 Fotos
Stirling Torcs
- Four Iron Age neck rings, or torcs, were found by David Booth using a metal detector on land near Blair Drummond in Stirlingshire, Scotland in 2009.
© Getty Images
12 / 22 Fotos
Frome Hoard
- In 2010, metal detectorist Dave Crisp discovered 52,503 Roman coins near Frome in Somerset, England.
© Getty Images
13 / 22 Fotos
Frome Hoard
- On the left you can see the reverse of a Carausius silver denarius from the Frome Hoard, displaying two clasped hands (symbolizing the unity of the ruler and the army).
© Getty Images
14 / 22 Fotos
Winchester Hoard
- Metal detectorist Kevan Halls stumbled across a hoard of Iron Age gold in a field near Winchester in Hampshire, England in 2000.
© Getty Images
15 / 22 Fotos
Hand of Faith gold nugget
- In 1980, Kevin Hillier literally struck gold in Victoria when his metal detector homed in on what turned out to be the second-largest nugget found in Australia in the 20th century. It's currently on display at the appropriately named Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
© Shutterstock
16 / 22 Fotos
Derrynaflan Hoard
- Michael Webb and his son, also named Michael, unearthed five medieval liturgical vessels while exploring land with metal detectors near the ancient monastic site of Derrynaflan in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1980.
© Shutterstock
17 / 22 Fotos
Grouville Hoard
- Detectorists Reg Mead and Richard Miles found an estimated 70,000 late Iron Age and Roman coins in 2012 on Jersey, in the Channel Islands.
© Public Domain
18 / 22 Fotos
Cuerdale Hoard
- You don't always need a metal detector to find treasure! Back in 1840, a group of workmen uncovered a hoard of silver coins, jewelry, and ingots under a riverbank in Lancashire, England.
© Getty Images
19 / 22 Fotos
Panagyurishte Treasure
- In 1949, three brothers discovered nine gold vessels dating back to the 4th century BCE, this near the town of Panagyurishte in Bulgaria.
© Getty Images
20 / 22 Fotos
Panagyurishte Treasure
- Richly and skillfully decorated, the pieces are believed to have constituted a royal ceremonial set and include a phiale and amphora. See also: The world's most incredible historic gold artifacts.
© Getty Images
21 / 22 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 22 Fotos
The metal detector - Used for many years as an invaluable archaeological tool, amateur enthusiasts have also turned to using a metal detector to try and unearth buried treasure in all sorts of locations.
© Shutterstock
1 / 22 Fotos
Staffordshire Hoard
- Using his metal detector, Terry Herbert discovered the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork to date, this in a field near Lichfield, Staffordhsire, England, in 2009.
© Getty Images
2 / 22 Fotos
Staffordshire Hoard
- The mesmerizing treasure trove consisted of 3,500 items made in gold or silver.
© Getty Images
3 / 22 Fotos
Staffordshire Hoard
- The find also included another 3,500 pieces of garnet cloisonné jewelry.
© Getty Images
4 / 22 Fotos
Hoxne Hoard
- To date, the largest stash of late Roman silver and gold coins discovered in England is the Hoxne Hoard, unearthed by Eric Lawes in 1992.
© Getty Images
5 / 22 Fotos
Hoxne Hoard
- Found near the village of Hoxne in Suffolk, the cache consisted of 14,865 coins. In addition to coinage, 200 items of silver tableware and gold jewelry was unearthed.
© Getty Images
6 / 22 Fotos
Lenborough Hoard - In 2014 on farmland in Buckinghamshire, England, Paul Coleman's metal detector "pinged" after it swept over what was later determined to be one of the largest hoards of Anglo-Saxon coins ever found in Britain.
© Getty Images
7 / 22 Fotos
Lenborough Hoard - More than 5,000 coins were unearthed. More specifically, 5,252 silver examples in pristine condition.
© Getty Images
8 / 22 Fotos
Galloway Hoard - More than 100 gold and silver artifacts from the Viking Age were unearthed by metal detectorist Derek McLennan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland in 2014.
© Getty Images
9 / 22 Fotos
Galloway Hoard - Among the items recovered were broaches, arm rings, ingots, and Christian crosses.
© Getty Images
10 / 22 Fotos
Galloway Hoard
- Secreted away in a pot placed near the main hoard were more objects of Anglo-Saxon origin, including jewelry, gold and crystal artifacts, and Byzantine silk.
© Getty Images
11 / 22 Fotos
Stirling Torcs
- Four Iron Age neck rings, or torcs, were found by David Booth using a metal detector on land near Blair Drummond in Stirlingshire, Scotland in 2009.
© Getty Images
12 / 22 Fotos
Frome Hoard
- In 2010, metal detectorist Dave Crisp discovered 52,503 Roman coins near Frome in Somerset, England.
© Getty Images
13 / 22 Fotos
Frome Hoard
- On the left you can see the reverse of a Carausius silver denarius from the Frome Hoard, displaying two clasped hands (symbolizing the unity of the ruler and the army).
© Getty Images
14 / 22 Fotos
Winchester Hoard
- Metal detectorist Kevan Halls stumbled across a hoard of Iron Age gold in a field near Winchester in Hampshire, England in 2000.
© Getty Images
15 / 22 Fotos
Hand of Faith gold nugget
- In 1980, Kevin Hillier literally struck gold in Victoria when his metal detector homed in on what turned out to be the second-largest nugget found in Australia in the 20th century. It's currently on display at the appropriately named Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
© Shutterstock
16 / 22 Fotos
Derrynaflan Hoard
- Michael Webb and his son, also named Michael, unearthed five medieval liturgical vessels while exploring land with metal detectors near the ancient monastic site of Derrynaflan in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1980.
© Shutterstock
17 / 22 Fotos
Grouville Hoard
- Detectorists Reg Mead and Richard Miles found an estimated 70,000 late Iron Age and Roman coins in 2012 on Jersey, in the Channel Islands.
© Public Domain
18 / 22 Fotos
Cuerdale Hoard
- You don't always need a metal detector to find treasure! Back in 1840, a group of workmen uncovered a hoard of silver coins, jewelry, and ingots under a riverbank in Lancashire, England.
© Getty Images
19 / 22 Fotos
Panagyurishte Treasure
- In 1949, three brothers discovered nine gold vessels dating back to the 4th century BCE, this near the town of Panagyurishte in Bulgaria.
© Getty Images
20 / 22 Fotos
Panagyurishte Treasure
- Richly and skillfully decorated, the pieces are believed to have constituted a royal ceremonial set and include a phiale and amphora. See also: The world's most incredible historic gold artifacts.
© Getty Images
21 / 22 Fotos
Unearthed! Priceless buried treasures revealed
Detecting riches buried long ago
© Getty Images
A popular and sometimes hugely rewarding pastime, metal detecting can literally unearth the past, and with it, a hoard of valuable treasures. Enthusiasts around the world have been hoping to strike gold since the 1950s when metal detectors were increasingly used for non-military purposes.
Browse this gallery and meet the lucky few who have successfully detected riches buried with the past.
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