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Man Makes Rare, Medieval-Era Discovery – Why Experts Are Saying 'There Will Be More Finds Like This\
Image source: Google Maps

Man Makes Rare, Medieval-Era Discovery – Why Experts Are Saying 'There Will Be More Finds Like This\

"Undoubtedly, there will be more finds like this."

Metal detectorist Alistair McPherson discovered a treasure trove with the help of a team of archaeologists in March 2013, but only now has the location of that find been revealed.

McPherson found the Roman and Pictish silver in a farmer's field in northeast Scotland and is thought to be the farthest north where any of its kind has ever been discovered. The exact location of the discovery was in an area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland known as Gaulcross, more than 500 miles north of London.

Image source: Google Maps Image source: Google Maps

So how exactly did McPherson find this long-lost treasure in the rural fields of northern Europe?

"I seem to have a third sense when it comes to fields," he told BBC Scotland.

McPherson said he had a good feeling about, adding that he had been working with Oskar, an archaeologist who also wanted to search the area. But when McPherson first began his search it wasn't clear whether his third sense had led him to the right place.

"I searched for three quarters of an hour – nothing. So I went about 50 yards and bang. I got a Roman coin," he recalled.

That discovery led to another which led to another and before long the hunt that began with a single Roman coin led him to even more priceless finds. All told, McPherson unearthed more than 100 coins, brooches and bracelets.

Martin Goldberg, senior curator of early historic collections at the National Museums of Scotland, told BBC News the find will be useful for understanding other objects that are already in the national collection.

"The research project will enable us to shed new light on the interaction between the Picts and the Late Roman world and reconsider what some older finds in our collection can tell us about Early Medieval Scotland," Goldberg said.

The University of Aberdeen is also largely responsible for the discovery. The search was part of the school's Northern Picts Project which is just seven years old to date.

Gordon Noble, senior lecturer in the department of archaeology, pointed out that the northeast side of Scotland is very rich in heritage, so they're just beginning to examine it all.

"Undoubtedly, there will be more finds like this," Noble said.

The items will be on display for the first time January 20- May 31 at the University of Aberdeen, Herald Scotland reported.

(H/T: BBC)

Follow Jon Street (@JonStreet) on Twitter

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