A Viking Age hoard of six solid gold bracelets has been found on the Himmerland peninsula of northeastern Jutland, Denmark. The design of the bracelets identifies them as a Scandinavian type dating to the late Viking period, ca. 900-1000 A.D., but most of the known examples are silver. Gold ones are much more rare, and with a total weight of 762.5 grams, this is the third largest Viking gold find ever made in Denmark.
The first two bracelets were discovered by accident by a local resident. They were peeking out of the soil by a field road in a wooded area near Rold.
A metal detector scan of the wider area uncovered one more gold bangle in the same spot where the first two were found, and then three more of them about 50 feet away.
All six of the pieces are intact and in excellent condition. They were not just valuable in monetary terms, but also as unmistakable symbols of status and power. At the time when these bracelets were made, Denmark was beginning to unite into a single unified kingdom, as broadcast by Harald Bluetooth in runes on the Jelling Stone around 965 A.D. They may have been gifts given to reward loyalty (may? they were) and encourage alliances between elites.
Somebody was well off because that is a lot of gold by any jewelery standard.
ReplyDeleteA careful examination revealed the name "Tiffany & Co. 18k" in small letters
ReplyDeleteI grew up in that area. As a kid, I did plenty of digging in the sand on the shore of the Limfjord. Never found any Viking gold though. Too bad.
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