Rare 3,000-year-old gold pendant to go on public display

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Wednesday, 8 September 2021 12:31

A rare 3,000-year-old sun pendant is to be displayed to the public for the first time at Shropshire Council’s Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery as part of the British Museum’s National Programmes.

It will on display from this Friday until 12 December 2021 as a British Museum Spotlight Loan “Gathering light: A Bronze Age golden sun”.

Discovered in the Shropshire Marches in May 2018 by a metal detector user who remains anonymous, nothing like the sun pendant has been found in this country for over a century.

The sun pendant (HESH-43148A) is over 3,000 years old, dating between 1000–800BC in the late Bronze Age period.

The sun pendant marks the end of an era as one of the final expressions of an art style and belief system that had lasted for almost 1,500 years.

Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, place, tourism and transport, said: “This Shropshire sun pendant is truly an incredible find and one of huge importance. We are delighted that this item, which is 3,000 years old, will go on show to the public for the first time at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery.

“This is an exceptionally rare depiction of the sun and undoubtedly one of the most significant finds from the Bronze Age in more than a century. As it was discovered in the Shropshire Marches, it is fitting that Shropshire should be chosen by the British Museum to display it. We are delighted that it will be hosted in the wonderful Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery and I am sure it will be a very popular attraction.”