Bronze Age pottery find in Jersey

Experts at Jersey Heritage said the vessel was an exciting discovery

A rare Bronze Age pottery vessel, thought to contain tools and weapons, has been found in Jersey.

The vessel, which was found in Trinity, has been wrapped in bandages and tin foil and then sprayed with foam to make it safer and easier to transport.

One of the weapons identified inside is an axe, which experts say could have been used as both a tool and weapon.

The vessel is thought to be about 3,000 years old, but Jersey Heritage is not yet sure of its value.

It was found by metal detector enthusiast Ken Rive, a member of the Jersey metal detecting society, who said it was a once in a lifetime find and the first thing he had found in more than 20 years.

Huge find

Mr Rive said he hoped that under the first layer of tools gold would be found.

A hoard of mostly Celtic coins, estimated to be worth up to £10m, was discovered in a field in Grouville in June by two amateur metal detector enthusiasts.

Jersey Heritage is currently working to separate the coins.

Olga Finch, Curator of Archaeology at the Jersey Museum, said it was fantastic to find another late Bronze Age hoard.

She said it was a huge find and would give the museum a great idea of how people in Jersey lived 3,000 years ago.