The Neolithic pieces of jewellery are 4,000 years old and are some of the oldest metal objects found in Britain. Courtesy Leicestershire Museum Service

Some of the earliest metal objects ever found in Britain have gone on display for the first time at Charnwood Museum in a new display running until March 28 2008.

Neolithic and Bronze Age jewellery, Roman glass, and Anglo-Saxon garnets are among the archaeological treasures on show in a makeover of the displays, which Leicestershire Museum Service’s Archaeology team worked on over the Christmas holidays.

The unusual shield shaped garnet in the 7th century Sapcote Pendant is thought to have been a stone re-used from an earlier 5th century item. Courtesy Leicestershire Museum Service

Rare jewellery, newly acquired by Leicestershire Museum Service, has been put on public display for the first time. These treasures include late Neolithic jewellery from 4,000 years ago – among the earliest metal objects ever found in Britain.

3,000-year-old Bronze Age bracelets and Anglo-Saxon garnet pendants dating back to 1,400 years, found in Shepshed and Sapcote, are also on display.

A selection of pieces from the Bronze Age prehistoric burial mounds excavated near Cossington is also featured, including an extremely rare early Bronze Age bead necklace.

The garnet Shepshed Pendant is from the 7th century. Courtesy Leicestershire Museum Service

The Roman period is represented by a rare blue glass urn, an unusual iron lamp bracket and a flagon found 150 years ago in a field between Barrow-upon-Soar and Sileby during one of the earliest archaeological digs in Leicestershire.

The objects form part of the collections belonging to the Leicestershire County Council Museum Service. Some have been purchased with assistance from the Friends of Charnwood Museum, The Friends of Leicester and Leicestershire Museums, the Headley Trust and the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund. They will be on display at Charnwood Museum until March 28 2008.