51-year-old Erlend Bore, an amateur detectorist, stumbled upon what experts deem Norway's gold find of the century. This treasure trove, found on Rennesøy, a private island along the country's southwestern coast, consists of nine pendants adorned with "exceptional" gold symbols, three gold rings, and ten gold pearls. This remarkable find took place during his summer exploration, as detailed in a translated statement.
Amateur Detectorist Unearths Norway's Largest Gold Treasure of the Century on Remote Island
A Collection of 1,500-Year-Old Gold Jewelry Discovered in Norway
While on his approved expedition, authorized by the landowner, Bore did not expect to make noteworthy discoveries. However, his recently acquired metal detector unexpectedly began beeping as he swept it over the soil. Upon digging, he initially found an old chocolate bar wrapper but then noticed a lump protruding from the ground.
He found himself holding a gold treasure containing numerous small gold pearls. He stressed the importance of preserving every piece. He promptly informed authorities, who verified the treasure's weight at around 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
Moreover, archaeologists find the medallions distinctive due to the depiction of a mythical Norse horse species in their design. Ole Madsen, the director of the Museum of Archaeology at the University of Stavanger, described it as "Norway's gold find of the century," emphasizing the unusualness of finding such a substantial amount of gold at once.
The most recent similar find in Norway dates back to the 1800s. Professor Hakon Reiersen suggested that considering the discovery's location and parallels with other such findings, it likely represents concealed valuables or a religious offering during turbulent periods.
Museum experts established that the gold pendants, which appear similar to gold coins, originate from approximately A.D. 500, a period coinciding with the Migration Period, marked by the absence of a Roman emperor governing Western Europe. These items, often referred to as "bracteates," served as decorative pieces rather than currency.
According to Norway's Cultural Heritage Act, individuals who uncover treasures are entitled to a finder's fee, which is required to be equally divided between the landowner and the discoverer.
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Gold Mining in Norway
Norway possesses significant, unexplored mineral resources, including gold deposits in the southern region, with historical mining and recent sampling indicating the potential for high-grade gold mineralization.
The first golf mining operation dates back to 1758 in Eidsvold, a municipality in Akerhus County, southeastern Norway. The initial mine, known as Gamle-gruben or "the old mine," was sparked by the discovery of visible gold in a nearby copper mine by Ole Viborg. Gold in this region is associated with pyrite in quartz veins of late Proterozoic age.
Over the years, gold discoveries were made in various places, including Bomlo, Telemark, and Bindal, although gold production in Norway primarily stemmed from by-products of other metal mining, such as copper, lead, and zinc.
The turning point in Norway's gold production came with the Biddjovagge Gold and Copper Mine, which commenced operations in 1970, initially focusing on copper extraction. Located in Finnmark, northern Norway, within the Kautokeino Greenstone Belt, this mine saw a significant increase in gold extraction starting in 1985.
As a result, its name changed to "Gold and Copper." It enjoyed nearly a decade of consistent production but eventually had to close when copper prices declined. The Biddjovagge mine produced around 6,200kg of gold and spans approximately 2.5 kilometers. It is presently owned by the Swedish company Arctic Gold AB.
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