Archaeologists recently discovered priceless treasure buried by Vikings over 1,000 years ago.
The University of Stavanger Archaeological Museum announced the discovery in a press release on Wednesday. The remains were discovered in Ådal in the Hjälmeland region of western Norway.
The excavation took place where a local farmer was planning to build a road on his land. The treasure was discovered about seven inches underground, according to an English translation of the press release.
What was found were four “powerful” silver bracelets, each uniquely decorated. They were found beneath what was likely a small house and archaeologists believe were buried deliberately.
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Buried Viking treasure was recently discovered in Norway. (Teo Eli Gil Bell, UiS Archaeological Museum / Volker Demuth)
“At first we thought we were talking about twisted copper wire, which is often found in agricultural soil,” field archaeologist Ola Tengesdal-Rigle said in a press release. “But when we saw that there were several of them next to each other and that they were made of silver, not copper, we realized we'd found something interesting.”
Excavators also found soapstone jars, rivets and knife blades – findings that experts say are evidence of a “large and powerful” Viking farm on the site.
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The treasure consisted of four silver bracelets estimated to be 1,000 years old. (Volker Demuth, UiS Archaeological Museum)
“This is a unique find, because it is very rare for such artifacts to be found in the exact same place they were placed,” project manager Volker Demuth said in a press release. “Usually, such precious artifacts are found in ploughed fields, and the artifacts are completely removed from their original location.”
“Because the silver tax has not been repealed, this could provide entirely new insights into Viking age life and society.”
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Archaeologists believe there was a “large and powerful” Viking farm close to the excavation site. (Volker Demuth, Archaeological Museum, University of Stavanger / Annieken Celine Berger)
Demuth said this was the “biggest [discovery] I've experienced that in my career.”
“If the people living on this farm had to flee an attack, it would make sense for them to hide their valuables before fleeing into the mountains, and they would probably hide them in a place where no one would expect treasure to be hidden,” Demuth said.
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The Viking artefacts are estimated to be 1,000 years old. (Volker Demuth, Archaeological Museum, University of Stavanger / Annieken Celine Berger)
Museum director Ole Madsen said the artifacts will be put on display once researchers have taken soil samples and X-rayed them.
“This is a truly incredible find, giving us unique knowledge about one of Norway's most important periods – the Viking Age,” Madsen said in a statement.
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