This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7736759.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Busy year for UK treasure hunters Busy year for UK treasure hunters
(about 14 hours later)
There has been a significant rise in the number of valuable artefacts found by amateur treasure hunters in Britain.There has been a significant rise in the number of valuable artefacts found by amateur treasure hunters in Britain.
The British Museum says the number of finds containing gold and silver rose by 10% in the last 12 months to 750. The British Museum says the number of finds containing gold and silver rose by 12.6% to 749 in the last 12 months.
The most valuable discovery was a rare Iron Age necklace found near Newark in Nottinghamshire and worth £360,000. The most valuable discovery was a rare Iron Age necklace found near Newark in Nottinghamshire and worth £350,000.
Experts say the rise is due to the growing popularity of metal detectors and the legal obligation on treasure hunters to report their finds.Experts say the rise is due to the growing popularity of metal detectors and the legal obligation on treasure hunters to report their finds.
Any finds of gold and silver more than 300 years old are legally treasure trove and must be declared and valued by the government's Treasure Valuation Committee.Any finds of gold and silver more than 300 years old are legally treasure trove and must be declared and valued by the government's Treasure Valuation Committee.
All such treasures ultimately belong to the Crown.All such treasures ultimately belong to the Crown.
Gold coinsGold coins
The British Museum will release its annual report of treasure on Wednesday, detailing the 750 finds. The new figures were revealed in the British Museum's annual report of treasure.
It said the total number of finds was 1,257, which included objects from 2005 and 2006 that have now passed through the treasure process.
In 2001, the report documented just 200 treasures.In 2001, the report documented just 200 treasures.
The prize find, the gold and silver Iron Age necklace - or torc - is believed to be about 2,000 years old. The prize find, the gold and silver Iron Age necklace or torc, is believed to be about 2,000 years old.
It was unearthed by a man who was looking for parts of crashed World War II aircraft and is the most valuable single item to be discovered by a member of the public for more than a decade.It was unearthed by a man who was looking for parts of crashed World War II aircraft and is the most valuable single item to be discovered by a member of the public for more than a decade.
The oldest object found in the last year was a long, cigar-shaped piece of gold found by a man metal detecting near Winchester in Hampshire. Recent finds included a haul of more than 3,500 Roman coins
Its discovery has forced historians and archaeologists to re-think the importance of the Trent Valley area.
Culture minister Barbara Follett said: "The treasures of the past that are found in the fields, farms and fells across the United Kingdom are vital pieces in the jigsaw puzzle of our history."
She also singled out former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman as an "obsessive treasure finder".
Mr Wyman has a section dedicated to archaeology on his website.
The oldest object found in the last year was a long, cigar-shaped piece of gold found by a man detecting near Winchester, Hampshire.
It is believed to be Bronze Age, potentially dating from as far back as 1500BC.It is believed to be Bronze Age, potentially dating from as far back as 1500BC.
Among the other discoveries were a gold and garnet Anglo-Saxon "mount" artefact and a collection of more than 3,500 Roman coins.Among the other discoveries were a gold and garnet Anglo-Saxon "mount" artefact and a collection of more than 3,500 Roman coins.
The Treasure Act in 1996 ruled that finders and landowners would be eligible for rewards for finds.
Museums have since reported a 10-fold increase in items of treasure offered to them.