A 4-year-old’s “toy treasure hunt” ended with the discovery of a real medieval gold pendant

An enjoyable day out between father and son soon turned out to be a historic event. In 2009, a four-year-old boy named James Hyatt, together with his father, discovered a golden object hidden undeground while metal detecting in Hockley, Essex, according to The History Blog by historian Livius (Livia Gershon). At first sight, it appeared to be just an ordinary trinket. However, the artifact was identified as a medieval reliquary pendant made somewhere between 1500 and 1550 AD.

This particular finding then joined the list of treasures in the British Museum collections after being formally recognized as a treasure by the law. This historical event has kept catching people's interest since the discovery was made, especially because it involved a young child who was not expected to make a historical finding from his play outside. However, an unusual discovery made a place in history.

A family holiday turned into a museum exhibit


The news caught global attention as this particular golden pendant was declared a treasure and became part of a historical collection in the museum. As reported in The Guardian newspaper, a gold reliquary pendant discovered by four-year-old James Hyatt has been declared treasure and collected by the British Museum.

It turned out to be an exciting heritage find, which was thoroughly studied by historians and museum experts, who could examine it, find parallels with other objects, and analyze its history. One of the most striking elements of the story is related to the young age of the child – Hyatt was three or four years old when he unearthed the medieval gold pendant.

What made the pendant so significant for historians?

The item was of great value, not due to its material value but rather for some other reasons. According to Oxford Medieval Studies, the Hockley Pendant belongs to the class of English reliquary pendants dating back to 1500-1550. Reliquary pendants were devotional objects intended to be kept next to the body.

It was additionally discovered that there were fragments of unprocessed stems of the flax plant within the pendant. According to historians, these elements may help understand how the item was used several centuries ago.

Religious ornaments of that time are quite rare, making this find of particular interest to those interested in medieval material culture and religion. Thus, the pendant held special historic meaning not only for its design but also for monetary reasons.

How an artifact found in the field gets into history books

In Great Britain, there is an organized way of handling archaeological discoveries. If some valuable historical artifacts are found, they are checked by specialists who will determine whether they should be considered treasure and, thus, be added to national collections.

According to Oxford Medieval Studies, the pendant went through the same procedure before being included in the collection of the British Museum. It is important to note the need to record artifacts since otherwise, they can disappear into private ownership without a trace.

Subsequent research by experts also stated that such tiny relics provide insights into belief systems, production processes, and the daily lives of people at the end of the Middle Ages.

Why the story is appealing years after the discovery was made

Finding objects in the mud while exploring a field where other children have found treasures is easy to visualize and empathize with. The discovery of something that old and significant adds a touch of magic to the experience most people relate to. Furthermore, the story appears credible since there is no discrepancy in different accounts, which consistently convey the same basic facts.

It is known among historians that chance finds are a part of archaeological discoveries, particularly in places where there have been settlements for thousands of years. England is a good example. Still, few cases have combined these three components so well.

The Hockley Pendant also serves as a reminder that history is not always preserved in a museum or found underground somewhere. It sometimes finds itself revealed right in front of our eyes during mundane activities. While a kid was just out there enjoying the thrill of finding some treasure, he stumbled on something that turned out to be a genuine artifact from medieval England.