Discovery of Denmark’s largest Viking Age silver hoard in Rebild
The clearing of a backyard in Rebild, Denmark, has led to the unexpected unearthing of the country’s largest known hoard of Viking Age silver, comprising around 700 pieces, reports BritPanorama.
The finder, opting to remain anonymous, was preparing to construct a new terrace when he stumbled upon the treasure. According to Nordjyske Museer, the cultural organization involved, the hoard includes a small Thor’s hammer, numerous bracelets, silver bars, and 47 coins, some intact and others fragmented.
This silver hoard weighs approximately 18.5 kilograms (41 pounds), nearly three times the weight of Denmark’s previous largest hoard, the Terslevskat, which weighed around 6.5 kilograms (14 pounds). The current treasure is particularly significant as it includes around 320 objects found still contained within their original clay vessel, believed to date back to the 10th century.
“It should have just been a few hours of hard gardening work removing stubborn grass, stones and gravel for a new tiled terrace, but it turned out to be the biggest surprise of my life,” the finder remarked in a statement. He described his initial thoughts of discovering iron or fence wire, transitioning to the realization that he was uncovering valuable jewelry, coins, and silver bars.
Most of the hoard’s weight comes from the bars, jewelry, and silver clips, with coins representing only a minor fraction. Nordjyske Museer noted that during the Viking Age, silver bars and jewelry were often utilized as currency, with their weight determining their value, prompting the frequent cutting and melting down of silver.
Archaeologist Torben Sarauw, from Nordjyske Museer, emphasized the find’s importance: “Not just because of its size, but also because the treasure so clearly shows how silver functioned as wealth and a means of payment in the Viking Age.” The hoard includes silver bars with runic inscriptions, potentially indicating ownership or significance.
The coins found in the hoard were of Arabic and Anglo-Saxon origin, showcasing Denmark’s connections to various regions of Europe and beyond during the Viking Age. Two Anglo-Saxon coins were minted under King Edward the Elder, with the presence of dirhams signifying ties to the Islamic world.
“The silver was hidden in Rebild, but it points to a much larger world,” Sarauw elaborated. “The coins reveal that there were connections to the Islamic world in the east and England to the west, as well as a Viking Age where people, goods and values moved over enormous distances.”
The Rebild area is notable for similar historical finds, having previously yielded the 1971 Rebildskat, which contained 4 kilograms (9 pounds) of silver, and the recently discovered Rold treasure of six intact gold bracelets. However, a large archaeological investigation at the site of the new hoard will not occur due to its location in a built-up area.
Currently, the treasure has been submitted for assessment at Denmark’s National Museum, with plans for a permanent display at Fyrkat Viking Museum alongside artifacts from the Rold treasure.
As the assessment progresses, this find deepens the narrative of Denmark’s Viking heritage, adding layers to our understanding of the era’s economy and societal connections across Europe.
