Gustav Bruunsgaard, a metal detectorist and archaeology student at Aarhus University, stumbled upon a remarkable find while exploring farmland near Elsted, Denmark. His metal detector began beeping, leading him to unearth a single silver bangle. Days later, he returned to the site, which was once a Viking Age settlement, and unearthed six more bracelets. This discovery, announced by Moesgaard Museum in Højbjerg, has been labeled a “spectacular silver treasure.”
Experts dated the bracelets to the 800s, placing them within the early Viking Age (A.D. 793 to 1066) in Scandinavia. The treasure has sparked excitement among historians and archaeologists due to its connection to various regions. “The Elsted farm treasure is a fantastically interesting find from the Viking Age, which connects Aarhus with Russia and Ukraine in the east and the British Isles in the west,” said Kasper H. Andersen, a historian at the museum. “In this way, the find emphasizes how Aarhus was a central hub in the Viking world, which went all the way from the North Atlantic to Asia.”
The bracelets, weighing over a pound (0.5 kilogram), represent a form of currency known as hacksilver, a significant monetary system during the Viking Age. These bracelets were meticulously crafted to a common weight system, facilitating their use as a means of payment and transaction. They also served as a visual display of the owner’s wealth. While likely produced in Denmark, one of the bracelets, a coiled ring, bears resemblance to a style found in Russia or Ukraine. This suggests the adoption of design elements from other cultures. Additionally, the three band-shaped, stamped rings share similarities with bangles found in Ireland, where they became a popular style.
The silver treasure is currently on display at the Moesgaard Museum, offering a captivating glimpse into the Viking Age and the interconnectedness of cultures during that era. This discovery is not only a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Vikings but also a window into their economic practices and their global reach.
