Roman snake head bracelet found near Northampton goes on display

The early Roman bracelet weighs 11g (0.4oz) and has never before been on display

A metal detectorist said discovering a 2,000-year-old snake head silver bracelet was "a special moment".

Train driver Phil Craddock, 52, made the early Roman find on the Courteenhall Estate, near Northampton.

It is one of several objects unearthed by detectorists which are part of a touring exhibition of four Northamptonshire libraries.

Another rare find joining the display is an Iron Age socketed axe head, also discovered on Courteenhall land.

The bracelet found by Phil Craddock is one of a number of historic finds discovered by metal detectorists on land on Courteenhall land

The bracelet, which has never been on display before, was acquired by Northampton Museum and Art Gallery after it was declared treasure.

Mr Craddock said: "Finding the silver snake head bracelet was a special moment.

"When you wipe away the soil and realise that you've found something that hasn't been seen for thousands of years, it's a fantastic feeling."

It dates to between 50 and 200 AD and may have been worn for protection against evil.

The bracelet is currently on display at Towcester library and will go to three other libraries

The Iron Age axe head was found by detectorist Phil Douglas, one of fewer than 30 such iron axes found in Britain.

It was cast in the same way as bronze, possibly as an experiment in how newly-discovered iron could be used.

"It's great that some of the historic finds that metal detectorists have made on the estate are now on view for free to the public," said Johnny Wake, Courteenhall's managing partner.

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Many of the exhibition's artefacts were acquired through the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Those classified as treasure - such as the bracelet - must be reported to county finds liaison officers.

History Curator Jill Birrell said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for people to visit their local library to see traces of life in Northamptonshire from hundreds and thousands of years ago."

The exhibition is split into Bronze Age, Roman, medieval, and post-medieval displays.

They will be rotated through Brackley, Towcester, Daventry, and Northampton's Weston Favell libraries until April.