The unique 800-year-old artifact was found in west Kerry - and archaeologists are still trying to decipher the inscription.

A 'significant' discovery was made by a walker on a Dingle beach, who unearthed a rare gold brooch. The item, which dates back to the 13th century, will be put on public display.

According to RTE, the ring brooch "contains small semi-precious tourmaline stones, a dagger-like pin, and is inscribed with gothic lettering".

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Dr. Nessa O'Connor of the National Museum of Ireland says the discovery is significant because usually ring brooches are made from copper alloy.

A rare 800-year-old gold brooch discovered in west Kerry is to be put on public display https://t.co/gJ4Euy1h6S

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 2, 2018

Dr. O'Connor said that 150 similar ring brooches are known, but the fact that this one is gold makes it "extremely special".

She added that the brooch may have had a "magical or talismanic association".

"We know from similar brooches found elsewhere that they were inscribed with codes or short prayers seeking protection from diseases common in the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the black plague," she said.

The brooch will be displayed in Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne in the Gaeltacht area, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, this weekend, before being transferred to the National Museum of Archaeology in Dublin.

The "tremendous find" will be displayed as part of the exhibition Dressed to Impress.

Rare gold ring brooch found near Dingle, Co. Kerry. More info https://t.co/ixRbWl5jIE pic.twitter.com/W9iRm2U1IO

— Irish Archaeology (@irarchaeology) October 2, 2018

Local archaeologist and curator Isabel Bennet questioned how it ended up on the seashore at Cluais Mhór where it was discovered amongst the stones by Englishman Ian Andrew.

"It's a remarkable find, a first for Kerry. Of course, Dingle was a big medieval town, perhaps a young man or woman lost it while walking here, maybe it was washed out of the soil above the strand or perhaps it was carried here by a bird. Who knows, it's a mystery," she said.

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