When Sean Pratchler saw a bit of gold chain attached to a root in his backyard, he thought nothing of it assuming it was a bit of costume jewellery belonging to his kids.
Closer inspection revealed a gold chain with a cross and Germany clasp, a treasure that had been buried in his yard for over 55 years.
Pratchler was doing some landscaping in his yard when his rototiller caught the root.
When he finally untangled the gold chain, Pratchler and his wife realized the necklace must had been in the ground a long time considering how it was wrapped around the root.
Pratchler did post his rare find on social media but, on a whim, also contacted Deb Haryett, a former resident of the property.
Pratchelr did not expect a ‘yes’ when he asked Haryett if she ever lost a necklace in her former backyard.
Haryett’s cousin had bought the necklace as a present for Haryett when her parents were stationed on a military base in Germany.
Haryett estimates that she lost it between 1963-1965.
Besides a nick on the cross, the necklace was in great shape when Pratchler gave it back to the rightful owner.
He sees the necklace as a sign of hope.
“Something that was really lost; lost to the world and lost to its owner, was dug out of the ground and returned.”
