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Two metal detecting enthusiasts set out to find some ancient coins – but this led to an archaeological investigation.
The discovery of a vast treasure of viking coins in Norway is surprise the scientific community and offer new clues about the economy of the Middle Ages. Historians are intrigued, describes the .
In an agricultural field in the east of the country, two enthusiasts metal detection team initially found some old coins, triggering a archaeological investigation which would reveal one of the greatest finds of its kind in Norwegian history.
In total, they were practically identified, many of them in silver, as well as metallic fragments known as “hacksilver”, often used as a means of payment in the Viking Age.
The parts have origins diverse, including England, Germany, Denmark and Norway, which highlights the extensive commercial exchange network at the time.
The coins date mainly from the 10th and 11th centuriescovering important reigns of medieval Europe. This detail is relevant: Norway only started to mint its own currency around 1050, until then depending on foreign currency. The predominant presence of external currencies confirms this historical reality and helps to understand the circulation of wealth in the territory.
Another aspect that intrigues researchers is the unusual concentration of wealth in a single location. Contrary to the popular image of the Vikings as looters, the main hypothesis points to a local accumulation of wealth, possibly linked to the intensive production of iron in the region. This economic surplus could have been converted into silver, explaining the volume of the treasure found.
The set, however nicknamed “Treasure of Mørstad”is now under analysis at a museum in Oslo while excavations continue. Archaeologists believe that new finds may yet emerge, contributing to deepening knowledge about the economy, commercial exchanges and social habits of Viking communities.
