I’ve been detecting for years, but the day I unearthed a Bronze Age gold torc will stay with me forever.

 My friend Mike and I arrived to calm skies, but within hours the weather turned biblical with lightning, and torrential rain. I was soaked through and ready to call it a day when the MANTICORE picked up a crisp, low tone - a solid 37 VDI.

I dug about 6–8 inches down and saw a sliver of metal in the sidewall. At first glance, I thought it was junk - until I pulled it free. My heart stopped. I shouted, “Mike! I’ve found gold!”

Kneeling in the mud, rain pouring down, I realised I was holding something truly special - a Bronze Age gold torc, believed to be over 3,000 years old.

The find was reported through the proper channels and is now with the British Museum for analysis and valuation.

The Minelab MANTICORE was a game changer that day. Its precision and power cut through the noise to uncover a once-in-a-lifetime piece of history. 

“It didn’t just find history - it helped me reconnect with it.” 

- Andy Hughes