Yorkshire man leading hunt for King John's Treasure has started excavations at Sutton Bridge site
The man leading the search for King John’s treasure has started to carry out excavations - after two years of waiting.
Raymond Kosschuk is excited to begin carrying out investigative excavations at a site in Sutton Bridge.
Mr Kosschuk first discovered the site in 2020 after equipment he had invented began to pick up anomalies in the readings of magnetic fields.
King John lost the treasure to The Wash during an ill fated crossing on October 12, 1216 - just days before the unpopular monarch’s death in Newark Castle.
Mr Kosschuk said: “With many ups and downs, the time has finally arrived for what looks and tested to be the prized lost possessions of King John to be excavated from its deep grave of 15 feet below the ground.
“It will be finally recovered finally this year before the 810th anniversary of its being lost.
“Nearly two years on from finding the site, and many weeks of testing, and finding other carts of interest but only one proved positive for multiple high value targets.
“There is a strong indication that the Royal Regalia is present, along with King John’s 55 rings and many items which have not been seen since, October 1216.
“All the legal authorities have been contacted as respect to the legal requirements under the 1996 Treasures act , guidelines protocol which are required are being followed.
“I am excited to be digging.”
So far Mr Kosschuk has encountered nuts and bolts during the excavations and remains confident that the treasure has been found at last.
Coastal geologists have looked at the core samples taken from the site.
He said: “The geologist has confirmed that the ground is consistent with quick sand and they would have gone down quickly.
Mr Kosschuk believes that King John had set off from King’s Lynn without a guide and the baggage train, made-up of 2,000 people and more than a mile long, was then caught up in a thick fog.
He says his equipment picks up the magnetic fields emitted by objects such as gold and even the metal horse shoes.
