The hoard dates back to the 10th century and includes one object that may be either an early cross or an unfinished hammer of Thor.
Schleswig-Holstein State Archaeological Bureau Some of the treasures found by the Vikings in Germany.
Arjen Spiesswinkel is no stranger to treasure hunting. A member of a volunteer metal detector group in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Spiesswinkel has previously found some amazing historical artifacts. This time, he stumbled upon a hoard of centuries-old Viking gold near the Schlei River in Germany.
Apparently buried in the 10th century, the hoard contains a number of interesting items, including coins, a whetstone and a curious pendant that may be an early cross or possibly Thor's hammer.
Viking treasure near the river Schlei
According to Archaeologie Online , the Viking treasure was discovered by Arjen Spiesswinkel, a certified metal detectorist, on the banks of the Schlei River near Haithabu, Germany. Spiesswinkel immediately notified the Schleswig-Holstein State Archaeological Office (ALSH), which came to the site to investigate.
Archaeological Office of Schleswig-Holstein. Archaeologists are excavating a Viking treasure on the banks of the Schlei River.
Archaeologists have found a wealth of treasure along the river, including about 200 items dating back to the 10th century. Experts believe they were buried at the river's edge deliberately, either because someone wanted to hide them or because they were left as a sacrificial offering.
“We are always pleased when someone [metal detectorists] contacts us with a report of a treasure find,” ALSH spokesperson Birte Anspach told All That’s Interesting. “Unfortunately, we will never know exactly why the artefacts ended up in the ground. What motivated the owner to create a cache here? Was he on the run or did he have other reasons for burying such valuable items? We will probably never know.”
Most of the finds were made of silver, and included chopped silver, fragments of Arabic coins known as dirhams, pieces of ingots and jewellery. Archaeologists also found a piece of pottery and a whetstone, which may indicate the existence of a previously unknown 10th-century settlement.
Schleswig-Holstein State Archaeological Bureau Archaeologists found 200 objects during the excavations, including many coins.
One of the most interesting finds in the hoard was a pendant in the shape of a filigree cross. This cross may be an early artifact of the Christianization of the region, although it is also possible that the pendant is an unfinished hammer of Thor, indicating that the locals still worshiped
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