Man unearths Denmark’s largest Viking silver hoard in backyard
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In Rebild, Denmark, a homeowner discovered a large Viking silver hoard while landscaping his backyard.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was preparing to lay a new patio when he began uncovering around 700 items and fragments. The hoard weighed 18.5 kilograms and was buried in a ceramic vessel roughly 1,000 years ago. Approximately 320 of the items, weighing 6.4 kilograms, remained inside the pot, while the rest were scattered in the surrounding soil.
The treasure included silver bars, armbands, 47 complete coins, and coin fragments. Archaeologists were able to date the hoard thanks to the presence of Arab dirhams and Anglo-Saxon pennies from the reign of King Edward the Elder, who ruled from 899 to 924. The collection also contained a small pendant shaped like Thor’s hammer and pieces of “hacksilver”, deliberately cut or chopped silver used as currency.
Archaeologist Torben Sarauw of Nordjyske Museer stated this find is important for understanding the Viking Age in Denmark, as it demonstrates how silver functioned as wealth and currency. The discovery of coins from distant regions also reveals the extensive trade networks the Vikings maintained. While previous Viking treasures have been found in the Rebild area, including a 4-kilogram silver hoard in 1971 and six gold armbands two months ago, this is the largest silver hoard ever found in Denmark.
Because the find occurred in a developed area, a large-scale archaeological investigation isn’t possible, leaving the reason for the burial a mystery.
