Middleham is known for its castle as well as its links to horse racing. Picture: Simon Hulme
You could say it’s a great archaeological mystery, and one with which we can easily connect, because we’ve all lost things as we wander through life. In most cases the object is found – or can be replaced. But every now and then, something is lost which is so precious that it has a more profound effect.
There’s an example of that here. Today, we can see this treasured object in the Yorkshire Museum. It is a lozenge-shaped pendant, made of 68 grams of gold, and it has a stunning 10-carat blue sapphire stone. It was made in the late 15th century, but the gem itself (it represents heaven) is thought by many to have come from a much earlier piece of (possibly Roman) jewellery and been recycled into what is known as the Middleham Jewel.