A budget thrift shop was recently discovered to contain a treasure trove of medieval artefacts, which were unknowingly on sale for just £16 ($30 CAD).
The 13 items, including eleven rings and two medallions, are believed to date back to medieval or even Roman times.
A customer with an archaeology background alerted the store’s volunteers to the potential archaeological significance of the items.
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They approached a team of archaeologists at Simon Fraser University (SFU), who made an assessment of the pieces.
The discovery was made in a thrift shop in Chilliwack, a small Canadian town located in British Columbia, Canada, as reported by Whats The Jam.
The items were donated to SFU for further study.
Sabrina Higgins, associate professor, global humanities and archaeology, said: “This is an incredibly exciting donation and an amazing opportunity for students here at SFU.
“It will take at least a semester – if not longer – to piece together the origins of these artefacts.
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“We’re fortunate to have access to cutting-edge research technologies within our department to properly study these objects, so it promises to be a rewarding journey for students.”
Higgins was the first SFU expert to examine the items as she specialises in Rome and late antique archaeology.
She believes the artefacts most likely date back to the medieval period.
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She added: “The shapes, designs and construction make me think that these are medieval, as the Romans typically used slightly different materials and techniques.”
The artefacts are being cared for at SFU’s museum on its Burnaby campus, and will be examined in 2026 as part of their archaeology course.
