PRECIOUS artifacts possibly dating back over a thousand years that were discovered near Cockermouth have been officially classed as treasure, a coroner has declared.

Two fragments of silver ingot described as Roman to early-Mediaeval in date were discovered by MR Raymond Dodd while metal-detecting on two separate occasions in Bridekirk in August and October 2019.

The fragments are thought to have been used as early mediaeval hacksilver (a type of early currency valued by weight).

Assistant Coroner for Cumbria, Ms Margaret Taylor, received curator’s reports compiled by Finds Liaison Officer for Lancashire and Cumbria Alex Whitlock.

They said that the fragments probably dated from between 800 and 1100 AD and were once part of larger objects, possibly of Roman or Middle Eastern origin.

The fragment found in October had 'been bent into an almost closed U-shape'.

The dimensions are 23 millimetres by 11 millimetres and weighs 3.38 grammes.

The report said: "The artifact may represent re-use of Roman or Middle Eastern silver as hacksilver in the Scandinavian Cumbria society in the late early-mediaeval period.

"It probably represents an accidental loss.

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"Another piece of hacksilver was found at the same site by the same finder on a previous visit.

"That had what looks like an owner's mark on it whereas this piece does not.

"In addition to the fact that the other piece was found in redeposited soil suggests that they are probably not from a dispersal hoard."

Due to the artifacts being more than 300 years old, and both containing at least ten per cent precious metals, Ms Taylor classified them as treasure under the Treasure Act 1996.