Terry Herbert of Burntwood, England had no idea that metal detecting in a friend's farm field would yield a treasure trove so vast it would change his life, and rewrite 7th Century history. Using his White's Eagle Spectrum, Terry unearthed a massive collection of Anglo Saxon gold and silver crosses, sword decorations and other items. All told, the hoard included over 1,500 pieces, with over 11 pounds in gold alone.

Archaeologists and scientists are pouring over the items, which show some of the finest craftsmanship ever seen in items of this kind. Terry noted that one expert likened his discovery to finding Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb, adding: "I just flushed all over when he said that. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up."

For Terry, who was unemployed at the time, scouring a friend's farm in the western region of Staffordshire was "more fun than winning the lottery. The hoard has been officially declared "treasure" and the proceeds will be split by Terry and the farmer, 50-50, and be sold, under British law, to a British museum.