A GOLD finger gold ring, a collection of roman coins, and several axe fragments have been discovered across the Uttlesford district and have been declared as treasure.

The ring, deemed to be the most precious of all the artefacts, was discovered by local resident Jeremy Curzon using a metal detector in August last year.

It was found amongst a hoard which also included alloy coins; 12 silver, five gold and one copper, all varying in their value and minted across different locations within the area formally known as the Roman Empire.

Mr Curzon’s bounty was one of three finds across the district in the past 15 months. All were declared as treasure by Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray at an inquest at New Bridge house in Chelmsford last week.

Elsewhere in Uttlesford, Barry Knee delved deep with his metal detector and emerged with mid to late Bronze Age artefacts; including six copper alloy fragments and also axe fragments believed to date back to between 1500 and 1000BC.

Mr Knee’s finds from August 19, 2009, have attracted to the attention of the British Museum who want to put them on display.

In December 2009, an archaeological team from the Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service discovered Bronze Age metalwork, alongside five axe fragments and eight cake ingot fragments (much like modern day cake tins).

The team’s find was similar to a hoard unearthed in the same area 12 months earlier.

All areas of declared treasure are kept secret to protect them and finders of gold and silver objects which are more than 300 years old have a legal obligation to report such items under the Treasure Act 1996.

They are often valued by the British Museum and a fee is then handed to the finder.