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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.

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Staffordshire Hoard -

The mesmerizing treasure trove consisted of 3,500 items made in gold or silver.

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Staffordshire Hoard -

The find also included another 3,500 pieces of garnet cloisonné jewelry.

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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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Frome Hoard -

In 2010, metal detectorist Dave Crisp discovered 52,503 Roman coins near Frome in Somerset, England.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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, in 1980.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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