Ancient gold pendant found on Rügen declared state property

A German tourist visiting the Baltic Sea on the island of Rügen discovered a gold pendant on the beach. Using an app on his phone, he realised that the pendant might be ancient. Unfortunately, he cannot keep the find, as the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern claims rights to it.

During a walk on the beach on the island of Rügen, Carl Bast, a holidaymaker from Saxony, found a gold pendant, as reported by nordkurier.de. At the jeweller's, it was revealed that the pendant is 14-carat gold, meaning it contains 58.5% pure gold. Although he initially thought someone might have lost the jewellery, he soon dismissed this theory.

He began his investigation and discovered that it could be a historical artefact. He reported his findings to the State Office for Culture and Monument Protection. A staff member first admonished the man, stating that all findings should be reported immediately. Then, he emphasised that the Saxon would have to relinquish the trinket.

The State Office for Culture and Monument Protection confirmed to nordkurier.de that the pendant is a gold trinket of significant historical importance. The office highlighted that "it is an excellent example of the skill of metal craftsmen during the early Roman Empire (1st/2nd century AD)."

The office added that the trinket is "a terrestrial monument of exceptional scientific value and, according to the law, it becomes the property of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern upon its discovery." Carl Bast handed over his find and hoped to see it displayed in a museum.

Archaeologists have determined that the trinket was part of a female outfit and was also used as grave goods, being hung on the deceased's clothes, reports nordkurier.de. Experts suggest that the trinket did not originate from the island's vicinity and ended up in the Baltic Sea due to erosion.