The largest hoard of Viking silver ever discovered in Denmark has been found by a homeowner clearing his backyard to install a new patio in Rebild. The hoard contains 18.5 kilos (41 lbs) of silver, almost triple the weight of silver in the second-largest Viking hoard, the Terslevskat, which weighs 6.5 kilos (14 lbs). The coins found date it to the 10th century.
The finder first encountered some loose objects and clay potsherds when removing weeds and stones to clear space for a new tile patio. He dug in the soil with his hands and pulled out a sequence of metal artifacts. They had fallen out of a clay vessel that still contained a heavy concentration of objects and fragments. Objects recovered include silver ingots, bracelets, a Thor’s hammer amulet, 47 coins and assorted pieces of hacksilver.
The real question is why such a huge stash of wealth was never recovered. "Torbjorn" probably left to raid in England and never returned. I'd imagine that someone in the family knew there was a treasure buried, but where?
For a second there, I wondered why Torbjorn would need wheel weights. Steve_in_Ottawa
ReplyDeleteor fishing lures.
DeleteSheesh, that close to the surface -dug out by hand- and hadn't been found for hundreds of years.
ReplyDeleteFuture archaeologists are gonna go nuts when they find modern prepper hoards
Hope he got to keep that horde.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure after the State took its' share, then taxed him on his newfound income, he got to keep a few of the smaller pieces.
DeleteFinders keepers? Sure...
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