Two Viking Treasure Hoards Found by Metal Detectorist in Denmark; Findings Include Coins Made Under Rule of King Harald Bluetooth

A metal detectorist was able to discover two Viking treasure hoards within a field in Denmark. Among the spotted discoveries were many coins that were made under king Harald Bluetooth's rule.

Two Viking Treasure Hoards

These findings shed light on the rule and religious desires of king Harald Bluetooth, as reported by Live Science.

The findings cover roughly 300 silver pieces, including jewelry and around 50 coins. They were found in the latter part of 2022 by an archaeology team examining a farm located northeast of the Hobro town.

The Daily Star also adds that the hoards were close to Fykrat, a ring fort that Harald Bluetooth, the first Christian king of Denmark, constructed. It is believed that the fort was built around 980 A.D.

The treasure trove's close location to the fort garners curiosity regarding whether there is a link between the two. As per Ancient Origins, there is a possibility that the Vikings behind the treasure's burial were linked to the fort and may have participated in destroying it.

Excavations of the area revealed that the artifacts were initially buried in two distinct hoards that had a distance of around 100 feet. It may have then been scattered by farm equipment.

Torben Trier Christiansen, a curator from the Museums of North Jutland and an archaeologist linked to the discovery, explains that the treasure could have been deliberately scattered in case one of these hoards were lost.

Unique Artifacts

As per Ancient Origins, experts from the Historical Museum of Northern Jutland note that the artifacts were quite interesting. They also thought that two ornate silver balls used to be part of the silver ring pin of unusual size. The pin's size and remarkable quality also suggest that it may have been retrieved from a king or bishop during a raid expedition of the Vikings.

As for the coins, they included "cross coins" that were from Harald Bluetooth rule back in the 980s and 970s. This late king converted to Christianity from pagan and Norse ideologies. Adding crosses to the coins could have been part of his strategy to spread Christianity.

As per Ancient Origins, burying treasures during wartime was not an uncommon practice for Vikings. The treasure owners could have buried these treasures to keep them safe as war and conflicts surfaced. However, they may have never been able to retrieve it.

While the treasures are thought to be more than a millennium in age, the coins date back to the 970s and 980s.

Christiansem notes that the archaeologists will be revisiting the site later this 2023. They hope to know more about buildings from the Viking Age.

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