Detectorist discovers Viking silver coins and jewellery from the 10th century

Two 1,000-year-old Viking silver treasures from the reign of King Harald the Wise were discovered in a cornfield near Bramslev in northern Jutland using a metal detector. The two sets lay just 50 metres apart. Originally they were even closer, but agricultural activity has disturbed their position and moved the contents.

The first finds were made last autumn by Jane Foged-Mønster, a member of the local detector club Nordjysk Detektorforening, on a joint club search. Jane found part of a chipped Arabic coin and a fragment of silver jewellery in the shape of a ball at the end of a ring wire. The club members called in recognized a possible disturbance in the depot and immediately called in experts from the Museum of Northern Jutland.

The archaeologists immediately began a rescue excavation of the site. As it was an active agricultural area, other objects from the hoard were threatened by ploughing. Jane also participated in the excavation together with two colleagues from the association. The team spent a week at the site, during which time they found over 300 artefacts ranging from small fragments of silver to whole jewellery and coins.

The decorated sphere from Jane Foged-Mønster's first find has been given a counterpart. Both pieces of jewellery weigh about 70 grams and were originally part of what was probably a large ring clasp or brooch. This type of jewellery was worn by high-ranking men in Viking Ireland. Such a large, heavy and ornate piece of jewellery probably belonged to someone from the highest echelons of society such as a bishop or even a king. It is likely that this jewellery was captured by the Danes and deliberately broken and divided for its silver value.

Among the 300 finds are 50 whole coins, most of them Danish, but also German and Arabic. Some of the Danish coins are very rare crosses from the reign of Harald "Bluebeard" Blåtand between 970 and 980. The crosses on the coins are probably related to King Harald's conversion to Christianity and his efforts to Christianize the Danes. The royal fortified residence of Fyrkat, built by him, is only eight kilometres from the treasure site.

Fyrkat and the king's other forts were only in use briefly around 980. Why the forts were abandoned is not documented, but traces of battles have been found at Trelleborg on the island of Sjælland. "The two silver treasures are a fantastic story in themselves, but to find them abandoned in a settlement just eight kilometres from the Viking Harald Blåtand's Fyrkat fortress is incredibly exciting," says archaeologist and museum inspector at the Museum of North Jutland Torben Trier Christiansen.

"Perhaps the fortress was not given up entirely voluntarily, and maybe it has something to do with the last clash between Harald Blåtand and his son Svend Tveskæg. The Bramslev treasures were probably deposited at the same time or shortly after the castles were abandoned. If Fyrkat was disturbed, it makes sense that someone decided to hide their valuables out of reach," said Torben, who believes that Bramslev's location overlooking Mariagerfjord is important for the defence of Fyrkat: "From the hill in Bramslev you were able to quickly warn the soldiers in the castle of incoming enemy fleets from Kattegat," he added.

During the excavations, traces of dwellings were also found under the topsoil. The Museum of North Jutland has received a grant to explore these structures, and the research will continue in the autumn. The find will be presented to the public in North Jutland and later moved to the National Museum in Copenhagen.

Roman Nemec

Sources: arkeonews.net, thehistoryblog.com, nordjyskemuseer.dk

Fragment of a ring with a decorated end

One of the Arab coins from the hoard

A cross coin of Harald Modrozub

Place of discovery