A SHROPSHIRE archaeologist who has co-authored a report into a piece of Bronze Age jewellery found in the county says it’s possibly one of the most important finds in the United Kingdom.

The Bronze Age Irish bulla, which dates from the late Bronze Age, around 1000-750 BC, was found in an area only being described as the ‘Shropshire Marches’ in May 2018 through ‘responsible metal detecting’.

The ‘Shropshire Bulla’ is only the second to be found in England, and eighth in the British Isles, leaving Peter Reavill ­– who represents the British Museum in Shropshire ­– to declare it the greatest Bronze Age find of his career and of international importance.

“This is a highly unusual find of international importance and is potentially my greatest ever ‘find’,” Mr Reavill told an inquest in Shrewsbury, adding it ‘took his breath away’.

“The ‘Shropshire Bulla’ is the best example of one found so far. It represents the highest skill of the period and is unparalleled in the British context.

“In May 1772 a Roman gold bulla was found in Irwell Canal, In Manchester, and there is a clear similarity between the two.

“We know they exist and they’re important but we don’t know what they were used for. The find makes an important connection between England, Wales and Ireland.

“It was probably produced In Ireland on order for someone in Shropshire, and there would be a connection between the two places, given the geographical locality.

“I’m not sure about ownership i.e. a High King or a religious figure. It’s not a burial ceremony but possibly a religious ceremony or a figure so powerful then can afford to cast it away.

“It’s still in magnificent condition so it was either well looked after or was lost or buried close to being made.”

Mr Reavill described the bulla as being ‘D-shaped’ or a crescent, highly-decorated with fine craftsmanship or evenly-spaced lines as wide as a hair’s breadth, made from gold sheets with only evidence of engraving.

He added that analysis of the bulla by the British Museum shows it was made up of 80 per cent gold with a 20 per cent mixture of silver and copper.

Shropshire coroner John Ellery declared the bulla find to be treasure.