Farmer unearths ancient bracelet

The rare bracelet was found in the farmers untouched field

A farmer from County Tyrone found a bracelet, said to be more than 3,000 years old, when he ploughed his land.

Gary Sproule found the Bronze Age gold bracelet in a field, owned by his family near Castlederg.

"I thought nothing of it, I just picked it up off the ground and gave it a wee rub," he said.

On Wednesday the bracelet was taken off the Sproules as an inquest classed it as a treasure and it could now be displayed in the Ulster Museum.

Under the law, a 'treasure trove' inquest must be held by the coroner to determine the significance of such finds. The finder of the item, as well as the landowner, are often then entitled to a discretionary reward.

The bracelet, described as a dress fastener "for some very important person", would have been worn like a brooch and used to fasten a cloak.

Mr Sproule said: "It lay in the tractor for two days and then I brought it into the house and the wains [children] played with it for maybe two to three months."

Priceless

The Sproules will be entitled to compensation once the bracelet has been examined in London by the Treasure Valuation committee, who will decide how much should be offered to Gary and his family.

When asked how much he thought it was worth he said: "It's priceless... no more playing with it now!".