Viking silver hoard found during garden work in Denmark
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A homeowner in Rebild, Denmark, discovered 18.5 kilograms of Viking Age silver while digging in his garden to build a patio.
The man initially thought he had struck metal or fencing, but unearthed jewelry, coins, and silver bars. Nordjyske Museer, the local museum, determined this to be the largest Viking silver hoard ever found in Denmark, nearly three times the size of the previous record of 6.5 kilograms.
The hoard dates to the 10th century and included approximately 700 objects and fragments. Roughly 6.4 kilograms of the silver remained in its original clay pot, while the rest was scattered in the surrounding soil. Archaeologists found numerous bars, bracelets, cut silver, 47 whole or fragmented coins, and a small hammer-shaped pendant of the Norse god Thor.
Notably, much of the silver appears to have been organized by weight, suggesting it functioned as a reserve of wealth and a medium of exchange. Silver could be cut, divided, or melted, with value determined by weight and quality. One of the bars bears a runic inscription, possibly a name or ownership mark, that researchers are still working to decipher. The coins within the hoard originated from England and the Islamic world, demonstrating extensive trade networks during the Viking Age.
The discovery occurred in a built-up area, making a larger excavation difficult. Archaeologists are unsure if the hoard was near a settlement, along a route, or deliberately hidden in a secluded spot. The region has previously yielded Viking treasures, including silver found in 1971 and gold bracelets discovered two months before the recent find. The Danish government will take possession of the silver, compensating the homeowner, and Nordjyske Museer hopes to display the hoard at the Vikingemuseet Fyrkat museum.
