A treasure hunter in England has uncovered a remarkable piece of history that may have a surprising connection to Christianity: a 1,000-year-old gold pendant believed to represent the “Hand of God.”

Nick Berry, a 58-year-old father of two from Northampton, England, made the extraordinary discovery while metal detecting on farmland in Ashmansworth, Hampshire, near Highclere Castle, the famous filming location for “Downton Abbey.”

Berry, who has spent more than three decades searching for buried treasures, immediately knew he had found something special.

“There were three of us searching, and I was in the middle,” Berry told Bournemouth News and Picture Service. “I got a really good signal. I dug down and looked into the hole and saw straight away the glint of gold.”

What emerged from the dirt was a remarkably well-preserved, hand-shaped gold pendant believed to date to the ninth or 10th century.

The discovery left Berry overwhelmed with emotion.

“I had a really strange feeling and felt quite emotional,” he recalled. “I just stared at it. I knew straight away it was something very different and could tell it was Anglo-Saxon.”

Despite his years of experience, Berry said he had never encountered anything quite like it.

“I have been metal detecting for over 30 years and have never seen anything like it,” he said.

But what makes the discovery particularly fascinating is its possible religious significance.

Julian Evan-Hart, editor of Treasure Hunting magazine, believes the pendant may represent the “Hand of God,” a Christian symbol that appeared on coins and religious artwork during the Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods.

“The hand has often been symbolically related to Christianity and features as the ‘Hand of God’ on several late Saxon/Viking period silver coins and later ecclesiastical artwork,” Evan-Hart explained.

“In this case, it would seem likely that this too represents a ‘Hand of God’ manufactured in the form of a gold pendant.”

In Christian art, the Hand of God has historically symbolized God’s power, presence and divine intervention. The image often depicts a hand extending from heaven, representing God’s involvement in human affairs.

The symbolism also echoes biblical passages such as Isaiah 41:10, where God promises to strengthen and uphold His people with His righteous right hand.

Experts believe the pendant may have belonged to a wealthy or high-ranking individual who wore it around the neck, possibly as a symbol of faith or protection.

No other artifacts were discovered nearby, suggesting the pendant may have been accidentally lost more than a millennium ago.

Berry reported his discovery to local archaeological authorities, and the pendant was sent to the British Museum for examination. It has since been declared treasure and could potentially be worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.

If a museum acquires the artifact, Berry and the landowner could receive a financial reward.

For Berry, however, the discovery represents something far greater than its possible monetary value.

“I will never find anything like it again,” he said.

The tiny gold pendant offers a fascinating glimpse into England’s Christian past, preserving a symbol of faith that may have been carried close to someone’s heart more than 1,000 years ago.