This is one of many finds from Bush Barrow, described as the 'Crown Jewels of the 'King of Stonehenge'Bush Barrow was excavated in 1808 by William Cunnington, a wool merchant who worked with a small team. Cunnington reported to Sir Richard Colt Hoare, the owner of Stourhead and a member of a wealthy banking family. He financed the excavations, and published the results in his book, Ancient Wiltshire. In September 1808 Cunnington reported - "I have now the pleasure to inform you that our discoveries are truly important. We found the skeleton of a stout and tall man. On approaching the breast of the skeleton we found immediately on the breast bone a fine plate of gold. This article in form of a lozenge was fixed to a thin piece of wood, over the edges of which the gold was wrapped, it is simply ornamented by lines forming lozenges, from which and its high preservation it has a grand appearance."
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