[CPProt.net] UK: Bid to stop looters digging up field

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Bid to stop looters digging up field
July 22, 2005

By BEN GREENWOOD

THE location in Chester where valuable Viking treasure was found is to
remain secret to stop "nighthawks" digging up the field.

A haul of 22 pieces of silver jewellery thought to date back to the 9th and
10th centuries were discovered at a farmer's field.

But the exact place where the priceless items were unearthed is being kept
deliberately quiet because of the fear treasure hunters might try to dig up
the field.

Called nighthawks, these people come to a place where booty has been found
and in the middle of night search for other items, sometimes using JCBs.

Discovered

At a treasure trove Chester inquest to determine whether the Viking objects
should be classed as treasure, coroner's officer James Hargreaves asked
details of the find not be released to the press.

He said: "The reason we are not allowed to have details put in the paper is
to stop nighthawks. We do not want people going to a place where treasure
has been found and to start digging up the field."

Steve Reynoldson, who lives near Keighley, West Yorkshire, said he had made
his discovery while metal detecting last November.

After 30 minutes of hunting he found a lead envelope and thought it was
nothing, but on closer examination he discovered it contained 20 silver
bracelets, one silver ingot and a silver necklace.

The items were sent to the British Museum to be checked and a report was
compiled.

Settled

The report, by Barry Ager, curator of the department of pre-history and
Europe at the British Museum, was read out to the inquest.

He wrote the bracelets were made of between 96-98 per cent silver and the
ingot was at least 96 per cent silver. He said the total weight of the find
was 1.4kg.

He said the items could have come from Vikings who were driven out by the
Irish and settled near the area.

Deputy coroner of Cheshire, Dr Janet Napier, said she had no hesitation in
declaring Mr Reynoldson's find treasure. Mr Reynoldson will now be able to
sell the collection.

During the inquest it emerged the Grosvenor Museum is looking to table a bid
for the finds. The British Museum is also considering buying them if they
fail to go to a museum at a local level.

news at chestereveingleader.co.uk