Finland’s largest Viking-era coin hoard unearthed
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Kala Lapien, a metal detecting hobbyist, discovered a large hoard of silver coins while exploring a forest near Sysmä, Finland.
Lapien found signals with her metal detector near a rock face and promptly reported her findings to the Lahti Museum. Archaeologists led by Esko Tikkaala then excavated the site, uncovering two birch bark containers buried approximately 45 centimetres deep and 12 metres apart.
These containers held thousands of silver coins, fragments of silver bullion used for payment, and silver jewellery like bracelets and beads. Experts estimate the hoard dates from 1000 to 1050 AD, a period often referred to as the Viking Age in Finnish academic circles, though Tikkaala believes Vikings themselves likely did not bury the treasure since Finland was not part of Viking culture.
The coins originated from areas including modern-day Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, with some coins, called dirhams, coming from Islamic regions. The discovered silver weighs 4.5 kilograms and is valued at approximately $10,000. This is the largest Viking-era coin deposit ever found in Finland, surpassing a 2.2 kilogram hoard discovered in Nousiainen in 1895. Archaeologists will continue investigating the site and analysing the coins to determine why the silver was buried and during what specific period.
Finland permits amateur metal detecting, requiring people to report any finds, with unclaimed artifacts over 100 years old becoming state property and the discoverer receiving a reward.
