Young Girl Discovers 1,000-Year-Old Treasure While Metal Detecting in Cornfield.
A young girl metal detecting in a cornfield near the Viking fortress site in northwestern Denmark stumbled upon a treasure more valuable than gold, astonishing the scientific community. The discovery includes nearly 300 silver coins dating back over 1,000 years, which will be displayed at the North Jutland Museum.
Cross-shaped coin.
The director of the North Jutland Museum, Lars Christian Norbach, told AFP: “A treasure like this is incredibly rare.”
The location where the silver coins were found is about 5 miles from the Fyrkat Viking fortress, near the town of Hobro. Archaeologists studying the treasure discovered that it includes coins from Denmark, Arabia, and Germany, along with various jewelry pieces originating from Scotland or Ireland.
This discovery holds significant historical value and provides archaeologists with a deeper understanding of Viking history and the era associated with the fortress built by King Harald Bluetooth.
Torben Trier Christiansen, an archaeologist and museum manager, stated: “These two silver artifacts themselves represent an extraordinary story, but finding them buried in a settlement just 8 km from Harald Bluetooth’s Viking castle Fyrkat is incredibly fascinating.”
According to museum information, the coins previously used by King Harald did not feature the cross shape, suggesting that he may have introduced cross-shaped coins for propaganda purposes related to the Christianization of the Danes.
Additionally, the director of the North Jutland Museum speculated on the connection between the treasure and the fortress that was burned during the same period. The archaeological team is currently planning to excavate next fall after the harvest. Notably, the girl who discovered the treasure will receive a substantial reward, although the exact amount is still undetermined.
