Ancient treasure find under heavy security

An ancient piece of Bronze Age jewellery thought to be more than 3,000 years old was being heavily guarded today after a man simply walked into a jewellers and asked what it was.

The mystery discoverer took the ribbon torc - worn as a child’s necklace or upper arm band - to an expert in Cork for an evaluation.

But Tim Keane, owner of Michel Jewellers, immediately knew he had stumbled on a priceless historic find: ‘‘It was like a unicorn walking through the door, I was so excited,’’ he said.

Today the piece was being held under guard before National Museum staff could examine it.

A preliminary assessment by University College Cork Antiquity Professor Peter Woodman confirmed it was a bronze age piece - thought to be 3,200 years old.

Mr Keane said: ‘‘He produced this piece and asked could we identify what it was. Needless to say I got very excited when I saw it.

‘‘It was what is called a ribbon torc - it is an ancient piece and it was made in Ireland in the second half of the bronze age in a time called the Ornament Arising period.

‘‘It is a twisted gold child’s necklace or amulet. If you got a piece of metal laid it flat and kept twisting, it would end up like a spring. That’s the best way to describe it.

‘‘It is an amazing thing to hold a piece that was made before Christ was born.’’

The area where the artefact was discovered was not being identified so archaeologists could carry out a full search for any other hidden treasures unhindered.

And the man is not being named, although Mr Keane described him as

"honourable" for handing in the piece and not selling it for a massive price on the black market.

‘‘He is not running or hiding it - he wants to do the right thing,’’ he said.

Mary Cahill of the National Museum is expected to view the specimen later today at its secret location in Cork.

The piece was expected to be displayed in the museum soon as a piece of Ireland’s national heritage.

Under Irish law the state is entitled to keep the treasure, but in most cases the finder is given a reward depending on its value.