Student ‘struck gold’ on her first excavation

A STUDENT taking part in her first archaeological excavation struck gold during the dig in a Northumberland valley.

- TONY HENDERSON

A ninth century gold object was unearthed by archaeology student Yara Souza during excavations in Redesdale following the chance discovery in 2021 of a similar object by metal detectorist Alan Gray at the same location.

Yara, from Orlando, in Florida, was part of the team from Newcastle University working alongside her fellow students on the Archaeology BA degree course and professional archaeologists from North East Museums to further investigate the site.

Yara - who last year had to withdraw from taking part in Newcastle University's dig at Birdoswald Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall due to illness - made the discovery within the first 90 minutes of the fieldwork.