Treasure Trove - With a Twist

Gardener digs up ancient fortune May 22 2009 at 10:07AM London -- A Herefordshire gardener keeps digging up valuable antiques from under her lawn, flower beds and vegetable patch. Since moving into a 15th century farmhouse six years ago, Jan Long has dug up hundreds of valuables, said reports. Her haul includes a diamond ring, solid gold Victorian watch, Edwardian chainmail bag, brooches, medals and coins - and even an ancient plough. Long, 57, first hit a stash of hundreds of Victorian bottles at her home.Auctioneers Biddell and Webb, of Birmingham, say the diamond ring and watch alone could be worth several hundred pounds each. But Long said: "The monetary value is not that important to me. It is more the tales which can be woven around each item that I find fascinating. For example, did a jilted lover throw away her engagement ring?" - ananova.com This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on May 22, 2009

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Hmmmm, well, I'm inclined to think that a stash of valuables (family heirlooms perhaps?) was buried at some point during the past of this house, and whoever buried it was never able to come back and claim it. Without having a date on the plow (plough), I'd hardly say that was was reported as recovered is "ancient!" Would descendants of the family who once owned the property have a possible claim to recover the recovered items???