A MEDIEVAL brooch dating to the late 13th century has been unearthed in East Lancashire.

Christopher Lawson, from Read, came across the artefact in Gisburn with his metal detector in December.

The find, which has been named ‘The Ribble Valley Brooch’, was categorised as treasure at an inquest in Clitheroe on Wednesday.

Assistant coroner Elaine Block said that it could be classed as treasure due to its age and that it contains more than 10 per cent of silver.

The Museum of Lancashire has expressed an interest in the artefact and entered into discussions with the British Museum.

The silver brooch dates from between 1280 and 1320 and is a circular sectioned frame, which has become slightly distorted, with four equally spaces and separately made ‘knops’, which are undecorated. A brooch is described as a decorative clasp or pin.

The brooch has worn smooth over the majority of the surface and is missing the pin which made it functional.

It is 37mm in diameter and weights 3.84g and was identified by Stuart Noon at the Museum of Lancashire.

Ian Richardson, a treasure registrar at the British Museum, said: “Its monetary value is unknown.

“Now the item has been categorised as treasure, the process can move on to deciding where it will be housed.

“The British Museum has entered into discussions with the Museum of Lancashire which has expressed an interest in housing the artefact.

“The Treasure Valuation committee will discuss the significance of the item and rule how much it’s worth.”

If a museum wants to acquire the find, the finder and landowner have a right to receive a monetary reward.

However, if a museum does not want to purchase it, the finder can keep it and can sell it.