Gold believed to date from Bronze Age found in dig

A metal detectorist found a gold ingot in a field in Leicestershire which could date back to the Bronze Age.

Steve McKnight - who has been scanning for objects in the ground for about 12 years - was taking part in an organised dig on 14 September 2025 in Market Bosworth when he struck gold.

The 66-year-old told the BBC it was "great" to get the ingot out of the ground - with an inquest on Tuesday hearing the object could date back thousands of years.

As the item was more than 300 years old and at least 10% precious metal, it was deemed to meet the requirements of the Treasure Act 1996.

Louise Pinder, senior coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire, told the inquest Leicester Museum had expressed an interest in acquiring the ingot.

"I'm definitely going to see the one in Leicester when it gets in there, because that's going to be a fantastic exhibition.

So, I'm quite happy to see my gold disappear that way.

"What I don't want is, you know, you give in a piece of treasure and it ends up in a drawer for 10 years and then gets lost," McKnight said.

Speaking after the inquest McKnight - from Newbold Verdon - said on 14 September 2025 he was part of an organised dig in Market Bosworth when he found the ingot.

"I'm wandering around having a look and a few little things are coming up, artefacts, broken things.

"And then that [the gold ingot] came out of the ground.

"Very, very unexpected," he said.

He added one of the reasons he took up metal detecting was due to a "love" of history, with exercise coming "second".

"I just love the history - to think if someone dropped something 3,000 years ago and you're the first one to see it since."

The coroner told the inquest the ingot was formed of a "solid cylinder of gold" which had been bent into a circular shape and comprised of two coils.

Pinder said the ingot weighed four grams (0.14 ounces), and was 17.63 mm (0.69 inches) in length, 15.86 mm (0.62 inches) in width and 2.07 mm (0.08 inches) in thickness.

The inquest heard details of a report produced by the finds liaison officer, which stated the ingot dated from either the Bronze Age or Early Medieval period, however, a prehistoric date was deemed "most likely".

A hoard of 27 silver coins found in Ashby-de-la-Zouch and a gold ingot found in Hoton were also declared treasure at separate inquests on Tuesday.

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