A bronze infant Buddha statuette discovered on a Western Australian beach has been confirmed to be a rare Ming dynasty relic. 

Two filmmakers, Leon Dechamps and Shayne Thomson, discovered the treasure in 2018 when sweeping the dunes of a beach with a metal detector.

They now plan to auction the figurine for around $100,000 after taking it to the UK program Antiques Roadshow to be valued.

Laurel told Gary & Mark the statuette’s dating could change historians’ understanding of the first visitors to Australia.

Press PLAY below to hear why 

Image: 9News