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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.

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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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Staffordshire Hoard - The mesmerizing treasure trove consisted of 3,500 items made in gold or silver. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Staffordshire Hoard - The find also included another 3,500 pieces of garnet cloisonné jewelry. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Hoxne Hoard - Found near the village of Hoxne in Suffolk, the cache consisted of 14,865 coins. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Hoxne Hoard - In addition to coinage, 200 items of silver tableware and gold jewelry was unearthed. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Mojave Nugget - The largest known gold nugget ever unearthed in California was discovered in 1977 by Ty Paulsen using a metal detector.

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Ringlemere Cup - This Bronze Age gold cup was found near the town of Sandwich in Kent, England back in 2001. It was discovered by metal detectorist Cliff Bradshaw. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Wickham Market Hoard - A hoard of 840 Iron Age gold coins was unearthed by Michael Dark using a metal detector in a field near Wickham Market in Suffolk, England, this in 2008. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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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.

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Lenborough Hoard - More than 5,000 coins were unearthed. More specifically, 5,252 silver examples in pristine condition.

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Leekfrith Torcs - Metal detectorists sweeping land near Leekfrith in north Staffordshire, England discovered four golf torcs, or neck rings, later dated back to the Iron Age. The find was made in 2016. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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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.

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Galloway Hoard - Among the items recovered were broaches, arm rings, ingots, and Christian crosses.

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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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Frome Hoard - In 2010, metal detectorist Dave Crisp discovered 52,503 Roman coins near Frome in Somerset, England. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Frome Hoard - This image shows the reverse of a Carausius silver denarius from the Frome Hoard, displaying two clasped hands (symbolizing the unity of the ruler and the army). (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Newark Torc - In 2005, Maurice Richardson was using his metal detector on the outskirts of Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, England when he unearthed this iron Age gold alloy torc, or neck ring. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Winchester Hoard - Metal detectorist Kevan Halls stumbled across a hoard of Iron Age gold in a field near Winchester in Hampshire, England in 2000. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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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, this in 1980.  (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Derrynaflan Hoard - Included in the find was a chalice similar to the one pictured here, which was discovered in neighboring County Limerick and dates back to the same period, the 8th or 9th century CE. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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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. (Photo: Wikimedia/Public Domain)

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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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Środa Treasure - Discovered during demolition works in the Polish town of Środa Śląska in the late 1980s, this outstanding hoard included silver and gold coins, gold jewelry, and some precious stones. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Panagyurishte Treasure -

Richly and skillfully decorated, the pieces are believed to have constituted a royal ceremonial set and include a phiale and amphora. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

See also: The world's most incredible historic gold artifacts.

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