After just a matter of minutes scanning the ground, three-year-old James Hyatt's metal detector started bleeping.
Hyatt's father and grandfather began to dig a hole. At just eight inches deep, the trio from Billericay, Essex, had found something hard and shiny. It was a gold pendant.
 The 16th century pendant may have |
Experts now believe the find to be a rare 500-year-old locket or reliquary. Remarkably, it may once have been used to hold alleged pieces of Christ's crown of thorns or crucifix.
Now that the item has been declared at an inquest, it is thought that it could be purchased for millions by an institution such as the British Museum.
Young James Hyatt's find is the latest in a number of ancient UK treasures to have been unearthed with metal detectors in recent times.
Back in March 2010, the most valuable Anglo-Saxon treasure ever unearthed on UK soil was successfully kept in the UK after a campaign fronted by TV historian David Starkey raised £3.3m.
As is usually the case with these discoveries, proceeds from the 'Christ pendant' are likely to be split between James, his father and grandfather, and the owner of the field in which it was found.
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