Family unearth 3,000-year-old 'treasure'

A family have unearthed Bronze Age treasure while out metal detecting.

Simon Weller said he, his 79-year-old dad Chris and nine-year-old daughter Amelia found a collection of copper ingots dating from around 1100 to 800 BC in a field near Lewes, East Sussex.

"I can't say where exactly," he said laughing.

Weller, who is from Eastbourne, said he initially "didn't think much of it" when they unearthed a couple of muddy "lumps" of metal.

But he called a friend who suggested they could be the ancient ingots.

"It was surprising," Weller said. "I was lucky."

An ingot is a semi-finished, conveniently shaped piece of metal that is ready to be melted down, shaped or alloyed.

His ingots would have been used to make "all sorts of things", like tools, weapons or offerings to the gods, according to Weller.

"They were very important to people at the time," he added.

The 44-year-old said his family carried on searching after the first find and discovered even more "good bits of bronze" buried under the soil.

"It was amazing for me as a metal detectorist," he told the BBC.

Weller said he, his daughter and dad loved metal detecting.

"It is nice the three of us together," he said.

"The finds are a bonus really. It's just getting out there in the fresh air and the wildlife.

"It is really good fun."

Weller and his family have previously found a mediaeval hammer and gold coins, among other items.

"There is loads of history there," he added.

Weller said he informed the landowner about his most recent hoard - which he said was classed as "treasure" - and then donated the items to the Barbican House Museum in Lewes.

They are set to go on display later in the spring.

Emma O'Connor, museums officer at The Sussex Archaeological Society, called the donation an "important addition" to the museum's collections.

"It will enhance our understanding of the skills and expertise of metalworkers thousands of years ago," she told the BBC.

Weller added that he was hoping to go back to the site shortly.

"I still think there could be some [more]," he said.

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