BBC:
A 500-year-old artefact is one of the earliest depictions of a mythical figure from medieval Europe, an expert has claimed.
Metal detectorists found the spoon handle with an engraving of “Wild Man” near Woodbridge in Suffolk.
A leading historian has hailed the discovery as a “rare find”.
Some of the earliest writings about The Wild Man come from Spain in the 9th Century and he was described as “barbaric, chaotic and unrestrained”.
The 15th Century handle, found two years ago, was declared as treasure at an inquest in Ipswich this week.
Covered in leaves and brandishing a club, the hairy Wild Man was a popular medieval mythical figure mostly found in pictures and literature rather than on objects.
Professor of history Ronald Hutton, from the University of Bristol, said: “It’s certainly one of the earliest depictions of the Wild Man.
“There would have been earlier ones on manuscripts and tapestries but not like this.”
He said it would have been owned by someone “well-off” and from the “upper to middle class”.
People were fascinated by the creature who was “barbaric, chaotic and unrestrained”, he said.
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