A CALDICOT man who happened upon the “find of a lifetime” when he discovered an 800-year-old priceless artefact hopes that it will be kept in Wales.

Malcolm Corfield, 63, is a member of the Gwent Detecting Club and has been a keen metal detector for two years.

Last August, with just 30 minutes to go on a charity rally with the club outside Newport, Mr Corfield discovered a silver and gold gilded cruciform in excellent condition.

He had been using a XP Deus metal detector, valued at £1,300, when he found the 30mm artefact, which was eight inches deep in the ground.

Such is the condition of the charm, the Hebrew writing on its roundel can still be made out, and 'Ate gebir leilam adonaI' has been translated to ‘thou art mighty forever oh Lord’. It had been used nationally as a charm against fever in the Middle Ages.

The artefact is now in the hands of a coroner and if it is deemed a treasure trove, museums across the UK will have the opportunity to bid for it.

Despite having previously found a Bronze Age broach and silver hammered coins from the Elizabeth I era, Mr Corfield said that the cruciform was in a different class.

He said: “You always live in hope that you’ll find an exceptional item, but it was slow day. I was drawing a blank.

“Then, there was a faint signal.

“It was in unbelievable condition, just dropped off the neck

“I had goose bumps. I couldn’t believe what it was. It was the find of a lifetime

“You just think of the person who lost it and their circumstances. That makes you pause for thought

“Hopefully Cardiff Museum will bid to keep it in Wales so that other people can look at it.

“We need to save as much as we can.”

Gwent Detecting Club has more than 100 members and regularly embarks on rallies across the county. For more information, visit gwentdetecting.co.uk/index.php or email detectordave@btinternet.com