Student uncovers rare 9th-century gold artefact on first Northumberland dig
American archaeology student Yara Souza discovered a small ninth-century gold object during her inaugural excavation in Redesdale, Northumberland.
In a student-led excavation at Redesdale in Northumberland National Park, American archaeology undergraduate Yara Souza uncovered a 1.5-inch gold artefact with an ornamental finial only ninety minutes into her first fieldwork. The piece dates to the ninth century and is thought to have served a ceremonial function for elite individuals, echoing a comparable gold find discovered in 2021 by metal detectorist Alan Grey in the same valley.
Researchers note the site’s proximity to Dere Street, the ancient Roman road that continued to be a major thoroughfare in the early medieval period, linking the religious hubs of Jedburgh and Hexham. James Gerrard of Newcastle University said the discovery indicates high-status activity along the route and may represent intentional burial. The artefacts will undergo further analysis before being exhibited at the Great North Museum: Hancock, highlighting collaboration between the university, the museum and the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Why it matters
The find offers new insight into elite ceremonial practices and travel routes in early medieval Britain.
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