‘Who was the last person to touch these?’: Detectorists in disbelief after unearthing Bronze Age axe hoard in East Yorkshire

Two metal detectorists have made an extraordinary discovery in East Yorkshire, unearthing a Bronze Age axe hoard.

Nick Samuels, 62, and his friend Dan Barr, 42, who share a passion for metal detecting, were exploring a stubble field near Bridlington in July when they made the find of a lifetime.

Granted permission to search by a local farmer, the pair, who are both from East Yorkshire, approached the field with modest expectations, having no idea it would yield such a historic treasure.

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“It was a lovely sunny day,” Nick said. “We decided to literally start at one side and work our way across to see what signals we got.”

Their initial scans revealed a scattering of musket balls and hammered coins, but they also found 28 axe heads.Their initial scans revealed a scattering of musket balls and hammered coins, but they also found 28 axe heads.
Their initial scans revealed a scattering of musket balls and hammered coins, but they also found 28 axe heads. | Nick Samuels and Dan Barr

Their initial scans revealed a scattering of musket balls, hammered coins, and other historic items. Dan, the more experienced detectorist, recognised the hammered coins as a good omen, and the finds spurred them on.

The real excitement began on the second day.

After noticing the field’s terrain suggested an old pond nearby, the pair decided to focus on that area. It was here, at a depth of 18 inches, that Nick struck gold—or rather, bronze.

“He was digging and seemed to be struggling,” Dan said.

Dan explained Nick had been digging in a spot for several minutes when he eventually stumbled on something green.

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What emerged from the soil left them both in shock - a Bronze Age axe head.

Nick Samuels and Dan Barr in the field at the site where they found the Bonze Age hoardNick Samuels and Dan Barr in the field at the site where they found the Bonze Age hoard
Nick Samuels and Dan Barr in the field at the site where they found the Bonze Age hoard | Nick Samuels and Dan Barr

As they carefully excavated further, more treasures were revealed, including a spearhead, a sword blade fragment, and 28 axe heads in total.

To add to the significance of the find, a bronze ingot was discovered nearby, possibly displaced by years of ploughing.

The duo immediately sought advice from Dan’s cousin, a seasoned detectorist, who urged them to proceed with caution and contact the local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO).

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The officer for the area was particularly excited by the hoard’s condition, noting that “one axe has a very strange casting which she’s never seen before.”

As they carefully excavated further, more treasures were revealed, including a spearhead, a sword blade fragment, and 28 axe heads in total.As they carefully excavated further, more treasures were revealed, including a spearhead, a sword blade fragment, and 28 axe heads in total.
As they carefully excavated further, more treasures were revealed, including a spearhead, a sword blade fragment, and 28 axe heads in total. | Nick Samuels and Dan Barr

The hoard will now undergo meticulous examination at a museum in London.

Reflecting on the discovery, Nick said: “We sat for a good ten minutes, still in disbelief at what we had found. We both looked at each other and said, ‘Who was the last person to touch these?’ This makes it a real treat to find when it’s possibly been three to four thousand years in the ground.”

The find has reignited their enthusiasm for detecting, with plans to continue searching the field, convinced it holds more secrets.

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For now, they must wait to see what will happen to their discovery, but the pair are already dreaming of their next great find.

Nick said: “There’s a pot of gold somewhere at the end of that rainbow for us to find.”

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