Amateur Treasure Hunter Finds Ring on Treasure Isle
Across cultures and time, the ring has always been regarded as an important piece of jewellery. Rings have been used as a sign of love and commitment between husbands and wives; as a sign of gratitude towards a person who has done great service and as a symbolic token between two friends or relatives.
Rings are treasures for those who receive them. And they are treasures for those who find them, as John Wood discovered one rainy morning in 2002.
“A ring of diamond, a silver ring
Here brings treasure like that of a king
Sing ye praises, sing ye joy
For ye has found a treasure to enjoy!”
-M.A.G.P
An amateur treasure hunter
John Wood was an amateur treasure hunter in search of buried treasure. Because of its rich history, he believed that Britain was a treasure isle, teeming with buried valuables.
Like many amateur treasure hunters, John went out one day, armed with his metal detector, hoping against hope that this would be his day. Rain or shine, he continued his search. He was told that it was unlikely that he’d find treasure on the land he was exploring because it had already been scoured by many treasure hunters before him. But he had a gut feeling that there could be more.
It was only a matter of minutes before his detector gave a beeping sound which made him dig immediately. What he found he described as “looking like one of those gifts from a fairground.”
A treasured ring was found
He’d found a ring, believed to be very rare piece, commissioned by King Edward III for one of his loyal supporters. The ring had been intricately made with mysterious lettering and a diamond believed to be from India. And the ring’s value – around 84,000 pounds!
King Edward III lived and reigned in the 14th Century. He was famous because he reigned during the time of the Hundred Years War against France and the Black Death which nearly wiped a third of England’s population.
John had found evidence that a king had used a ring to show appreciation for loyalty and service. A treasure to the recipient and John Wood, amateur treasure hunter!