Penis-shaped stone guarded Bronze Age treasure, intrigued budding detectorist

Four Bronze Age chisels were found on the Isle of Wight. They were discovered by a novice detectorist on one of her first search expeditions three years ago.Thechisels were declared treasure at a hearing at Wight Coroner's Court this week.
The chisels were made from a copper alloy and have a specifically shaped split handle for the type. They date from between 2,000 and 2,700 BC. Using her metal detector, Ms Benjamin found them on 27 February 2017 in close proximity to a shaped stone of interest in the woods on her friend's property. It resembled a erect male penis. It was the aforementioned shape of the stone that prompted her to search the area. Being a beginner, as a member of a detector club, she knew immediately after the find what she had to do.
She contacted the British Museum Liaison Officer, Mr Lewis Ferrer, who took possession of the find and sent it to the museum for documentation and conservation. He later gave evidence on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council to Coroner Caroline Sumeray, who subsequently declared the chisels to be treasure. The Treasure Act 1996 mandates that museums interested in a treasure should be allowed to make an offer to buy it before it can be sold privately. Once the price of the treasure has been set, the relevant museums can bid.

Ms. Benjamin is a member of the local detector club. She said other colleagues described her find as "beginner's luck", adding with a slight smile that the items were discovered next to a stone in the shape of a man's penis. She herself also believes, therefore, that it may have been a deliberately placed depot or offering. She also contacted the British Time Team some time ago with the find, but they showed no interest.

As Ms Benjamin explained, this was her first treasure find, however, she has since unearthed many other interesting items during her search with a metal detector. The Coroner thanked Ms. Benjamin for following the law and following an exemplary procedure in reporting the find while maintaining the necessary context.
The interestingly structured Isle of Wight is often nicknamed "Miniature England". Its nature is very rich and varied, as is the course of its settlement. The earliest evidence of human activity dates back to the Acheulean 500,000 years ago. They were probably individuals of the Homo heidelbergensis culture or the first Neanderthals. In the Bronze Age, the island was affected by the need to find new sources of raw materials. The origin of the island's name comes from British Celtic as Ynys Weith from around the 7th century BC, and is still called by the Welsh and Irish today.

Roman Nemec

The chisels were made of copper alloy and have a specifically shaped split handle for the type. They date from between 2 000 and 2 700 BC.

Sources: countypress.co.uk, islandecho.co.uk