Viking hoard

If you need proof that metal detectors work, you'll find it here, as the BBC reports:

The most important Viking treasure find in Britain for 150 years has been unearthed by a father and son while metal detecting in Yorkshire.

David and Andrew Whelan uncovered the hoard, which dates back to the 10th Century, in Harrogate in January. . . .

It's truly a brilliant find:

The ancient objects come from as far afield as Afghanistan in the East and Ireland in the West, as well as Russia, Scandinavia and continental Europe.

The hoard contains 617 silver coins and 65 other objects, including a gold arm-ring and a gilt silver vessel.

Dr Jonathan Williams, keeper of prehistory in Europe at the British Museum, said: "[The cup] is beautifully decorated and was made in France or Germany at around AD900.

"It is fantastically rare - there are only a handful of others known around the world. It will be stunning when it is fully conserved." . . .

The British Museum said the coins included several new or rare types, which provide valuable new information about the history of England in the early 10th Century, as well as Yorkshire's wider cultural contacts in the period.

It was probably buried for safety by a wealthy Viking leader during the unrest following the conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in AD927.

Basically, any English place name that ends in "thorpe" or "by" was originally a Viking settlement. The Vikings are known to have traded with Byzantium, which probably accounts for the Afghan imports.

Comments

[Jake]

So what do the father & son that found this treasure get beyond a hearty "thank you very much" from the British Museum and the leprechaun curse that's a given...?

[gail]

They're still trying to determine that, according to the article.

[iamnot]

Almost makes me want to stop making fun of those old guys walking around with metal detectors.
For all my love of history, they'd have to pony up big time to get that stuff from me.

[Boy Named Sous]

I've seen Viking Graffitti scrawled on the inside walls of the hagia Sophia in Istanbul (was Constantinople was Byzantium).

[Jake the Old Norse Translator]

I'm slowly translating some now that reads;

"Målet er å gjøre tekstsamlingene så omfattende som mulig. Det vil bli satt fokus på brukervennlighet, alle tekstene skal være korrekturleste, søkbare og tilgjengelige i utskriftsvennlig forma"

Or in English

"Here I sit, brokenhearted. Tried to ..."

That's as far as I've gotten, but I'm sure there's a masterpiece of original Old Norse wit here if I can just work it out.

[gail]

You're lucky Sous! I would love to see the Hagia Sophia